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Fri, 08 December 2017 12:05:32Fri, 08 December 2017 12:05:32Staying Cool Win At Industry Awardshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cool-win-at-industry-awards/Members of the Birmingham team travelled to London this week to attend the annual ASAP convention ( Association of Serviced Apartment Providers ). The convention ends with a gala dinner and awards and we were thrilled to be placed in both of the categories we'd entered. We won in the Serviced Apartment Marketing category and were highly commended for Investment In People . The ASAP is the serviced apartment industry's not-for-profit trade organisation representing 189 members across 17 countries. The ASAP's marketing award for 2017 looked for a marketing, PR or advertising campaign that proved to be original, innovative and effective. Tracey Stephenson, our managing director, said, "What a wonderful evening for Staying Cool! We were thrilled to win the marketing category for our social media campaign #littlextras. The campaign focusses on those home comforts and complimentary extras that make staying in our serviced apartments such great value for money." Staying Cool was also highly commended in the Investment In People category for the second year in a row. This award is for companies who are truly customer centric. This isn't the first time that Staying Cool has won at the ASAP awards, which began five years ago. The company won Best Guest Experience in 2014 and Serviced Apartment Team of the Year in 2016 . Tracey said, "We have proved that a small, independent company can compete with the best in the business. I couldn't be more proud."https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cool-win-at-industry-awards/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cool-win-at-industry-awards/Fri, 08 December 2017 12:05:32 Christmas Shopping In Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/christmas-shopping-in-birmingham/Make Christmas shopping a real pleasure with Staying Cool’s guide. 1) Plan it like a military campaign We take shopping so seriously in Birmingham that we gave it its own website! The Shopping In Birmingham website is a great place to find inspiration plus Christmas events, offers, opening hours and competitions. 2) Declare independence We’re proud that Birmingham still has a thriving independent scene including retail. It’s so good to be able to buy unique gifts from some of the creative geniuses we have hidden away. Minima on George Street is very close to our hearts with its contemporary approach to interiors – check it out for gifts and accessories (as well as furniture and lighting if you’re feeling very generous). Buying for a foodie? Check out the Anderson and Hill deli at Great Western Arcade (a gorgeous piece of Victorian architecture). Sweet fiend? How about a chocolate experience at the Chocolate Quarter? The home goods at Vincent van Doodle (at the Bullring shopping centre) are as left field as the name implies. Christmas fare includes mugshot prints of Bowie and Prince plus ‘icons on Iphones’ such as Einstein and Bruce Lee. All of the above offer discounts to holders of the Independent Birmingham card (which you get free on your fob when you stay with us). The Custard Factory – just down the hill from the Bullring in Digbeth – is another funky, creative place to visit. Try Fury Family for the sneaker obsessive in your family. 3) Find your one stop shop Birmingham is the only UK city outside London with five city-centre department stores (the huge and iconic Selfridges , a gorgeous and bijou Harvey Nichols at The Mailbox, newcomer John Lewis , Debenhams at the Bullring and a glossy House of Fraser ). There’s also a very large M&amp;S on High Street. The image above shows the view by night from Staying Cool over Grand Central and John Lewis. 4) Shop at the train station Birmingham’s New Street Station has been transformed into a thing of beauty and it now has a rather fabulous 450,000 sq ft shopping centre called Grand Central wrapping around it (plus the aforementioned John Lewis). You’ll find over 60 shops and restaurants there with brands including 5) Invest in some Christmas sparkle Did you know that Birmingham produces more than 40% of jewellery made in the UK? The historic Jewellery Quarter is home to over 500 jewellery businesses . Buying from the maker feels so good and will make the recipient feel extra special. 6) Hit the market Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market is the largest authentic Christmas Market outside Germany and Austria and includes craft stalls. While you are in Victoria Square, we’d also recommend popping into BMAG (Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery) as their museum shop has some gems on offer (and you’d be supporting a great cause). Entrance is free. For 2017, the ice rink and big wheel (which looks stunning in photos) has been moved to Eastside Green. 7) Let The Train Take The Strain Travel in to Birmingham’s New Street or Moor Street Stations and you’re right in the city centre. Alternatively, make a break of it and book one of our chic serviced apartments . We’re in the Rotunda building right next to The Bullring, in the heart of the city centre, so we’re perfectly located for some serious shopping. What could be better than getting out there for a couple of hours and then recharging your batteries in your own apartment? You can also make the most of quiet periods in the shops at the start and end of the day.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/christmas-shopping-in-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/christmas-shopping-in-birmingham/Wed, 29 November 2017 12:54:52 Christmas in Birmingham 2017https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/christmas-in-birmingham-2017/We love to make sure that visitors to Staying Cool at the Rotunda in Birmingham have a great time. Here are some of our suggestions for great things to do in Birmingham in the lead up to December 25th. Any ideas for a Christmas night out in Birmingham? How about Roy Wood’s Rockmas at Symphony Hall? On December 16th, the man who brought us ' I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' will be joined by Paul Young. Mark Radcliffe’s band will open the show. It all sounds slightly bonkers yet brilliant at the same time. Where can I see a great Christmas film? The Electric cinema - Birmingham's brilliant indie - is showing a veritable smorgasbord of Christmas films ranging from Die Hard to Elf to the original Miracle on 34th Street. Things kick off in style with Gremlins on December 7th plus a Q&amp;A with the film's star Zach Galligan. There are a few special showings such as The Nightmare Before Christmas with creepy treats and White Christmas with a winter wine tasting. Where can we see Father Christmas? This year, BMAG (Birmingham Art Gallery and Museum) is hosting Santa every weekend. For £5 per child, you get a photo with Father Christmas in his grotto plus a gift. The kids can also get to see all the cool stuff BMAG has to offer for free at the same time. Online booking is available What Christmas family shows are on? Birmingham’s biggest Christmas 2017 show is Cinderella at the Hippodrome , which runs from 19 th December-January 28 th . It’s the ultimate traditional panto starring Beverley Knight as the Fairy Godmother, Suzanne Shaw as Cinders and Strictly's Danny Mac as Prince Charming. If panto isn’t your thing, then the Rep is putting on 101 Dalmatians . Birmingham Rep's productions are always top class and we can’t wait to see how they approach the whole 99 Dalmatian puppies challenge! 101 Dalmatians runs from December 30 th -Jan 13 th . Where can we see the Christmas lights? We'll have them in Birmingham city centre, of course, but if you love Christmas lights then why not book for the illuminated trail at Birmingham Botanical Gardens (29 th November-January 1 st )? The Staying Cool team really enjoyed this event in 2016. See the gardens in a whole new way with themed lights and music transforming them for Christmas. Afterwards, you can warm up with the roast chestnuts, mulled cider and hot chocolate on sale. Is there a Christmas market in Birmingham? There is indeed. Right outside our doors every year at the Birmingham Rotunda, Christmas suddenly arrives in the form of the Frankfurt Christmas Market (November-16 th -December 24 th ). It’s the largest Christmas market outside Germany and Austria and we love having a mooch around the stalls gluhwein (strictly outside working hours, of course!).The extremely kitsch pot boots you drink the gluhwein from are brilliant and the market gives you that warm Christmassy glow. What time should we visit the Birmingham Christmas market? The market opens daily at 10am and closes at 9pm. It does get busy at weekends and after most offices close for the day. We’d suggest Monday or Tuesday as the quietest times. Why not stay over with us using our s pecial offer for early in the week? Does Birmingham offer anything classical for Christmas? Handel’s Messiah is being performed by the City of Birmingham choir with the CBSO on Friday, December 7 th at the Symphony Hall. The choir has performed this piece annually for over 90 years, so it’s a wonderful Brummie tradition. Is Birmingham good for Christmas shopping? With hundreds of shops, including five department stores, Birmingham really is a great place to shop. In fact, we even have an entire website devoted to shopping i n Birmingham , so that you can see what’s on offer in advance and decide where to focus your energy. We’d recommend a ‘Shop and then Drop’ strategy with one of our Rotunda apartments as your Christmas shopping base. Christmas shopping is so much more fun when it involves staying somewhere gorgeous, right at the heart of the shops!https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/christmas-in-birmingham-2017/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/christmas-in-birmingham-2017/Tue, 10 October 2017 16:13:06 Birmingham Serviced Apartments On Awards Shortlisthttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birmingham-serviced-apartments-on-awards-shortlist/We're delighted to say that Staying Cool at the Rotunda has been shortlisted for two industry awards. Our industry body - the ASAP (Association of Serviced Apartment Providers) - announced last night that we are on the final list for their Investment In People and Marketing awards. In 2016, we won ASAP Team of The Year whilst we were runner up in the Investment In People award . In 2014, we won the Best Guest Experience award . These are global awards and we are always up against fierce competition, so even to be on the shortlists is a great thing for us as a business. The ASAP Investment In People award is awarded to a truly customer-centric business . We're very pleased to be shortlisted as our way of working is to ask what our guests need to have a fantastic stay and to build from there. Detail is so important and we think that's what makes our serviced apartments in Birmingham such great places to stay. They look wonderful but they also work well too thanks to clever design combined with outstanding customer service. Unfortunately, we have to wait until the end of the year to find out whether we have won either of the ASAP awards. The ASAP awards take place n London on December 7th and our long wait will finally be over.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birmingham-serviced-apartments-on-awards-shortlist/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birmingham-serviced-apartments-on-awards-shortlist/Thu, 07 September 2017 12:39:34 Cool Things To Do In Birmingham – September 2017https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/cool-things-to-do-in-birmingham-september-2017/It’s part of our job to let you know when particularly cool things are happening in the second city. September is going to be an especially good month, so get your plans to visit in gear. Here are our top 7 things to do in Birmingham in September 2017. 1) Heritage Weekend – Cadbury’s Bournville Saturday, 9 th -Sunday, 10 th September Take a tour of Bournville, the model village founded by George and Richard Cadbury for their workers to live in. Bournville represents a fascinating slice of the social history of the West Midlands. This brainchild of the Cadbury brothers is still considered to be one of the best places to live in Birmingham. Tours are weather permitting and are run at other times of the year too. If you are into history and/or architecture keep an eye out for Heritage Open Days too during September. Take the chance to explore fascinating buildings in and around Birmingham. 2) BMAG Collection Open Afternoon Saturday, 9th September We do love VIP access! 80% of stored collections held by BMAG (Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery) are not on display, but these monthly open afternoons (which must be pre-booked) open up one of Birmingham’s hidden gems. Have a mooch round around BMAG’s 1.5 hectare Museum Collection Centre, meet the experts and grab images of some incredible objects for your Instragram feed. BMAG Open Afternoons are free but must be booked in advance. 3) Beyond The Tracks Festival Friday, 15 th -Sunday, 17 th September Enjoy outstanding live music, but say no to mud and tents! Beyond the Tracks is taking place in Eastside Park (the newest Birmingham’s many parks and gardens). The line up is great with Faithless, Leftism, Maximo Park, Editors and Jesus and Mary Chain headlining. A long weekend ticket costs £145, but you can also buy day tickets. No under sixteens are allowed, so this is one for adults rather than a family festival. NB: Until August 4th, you can get the chance to win tickets for Beyond the Tracks plus a stay with us by supporting the wonderful LoveBrum charity . Good luck! 4) Independent Birmingham Festival at Aston Hall Sunday, 17 th September The first Independent Birmingham Festival took place in May and was such a roaring success that the team have organised another festival. May’s Festival took place at The Bond in Digbeth but this one is taking place at BMAG’s Aston Hall. Enjoy the best of Birmingham’s independent food, drink, design, art and shopping in Jacobean splendour. Tickets costs just £8 with under 12s admitted free. 5) Birmingham Weekender Friday, 22 nd -Sunday, 24 th September Birmingham’s biggest arts festival is back and not to be missed! The city will come alive with 120 performances in one massive weekend. A major highlight of Weekender will be Clash of Drums , a spectacular combination of sound and fireworks on Eastside Green, courtesy of Birmingham Hippodrome. Birmingham’s Victoria Square will be the base for three days (and nights) of dance including disco, bhangra, folk and Northern Soul plus DJs including 6 Music’s Craig Charles and Don Letts. A rt will pop up in unexpected places all weekend . Enjoy Birmingham Royal Ballet , Birmingham Opera Company and Ex Cathedra in the Bullring shopping centre, and The Multi-Story Orchestra in a car park. See ethereal projections in Cathedral Square by Tony Oursler plus inflatable sculptures by world famous artists Designs in the Air - on the roof of the New Alexandra Theatre. You can even be entertained while you travel thanks to Tram-A-Lama-Ding-Dong on the Metro between New Street and the Jewellery Quarter. On Sunday 24 th, the Bull Ring Markets will offer the Alternative Village Fete with a car-boot disco and Drag Queen Story Time. 6) ThinkTank - Tim Peake’s Photos From Space Saturday, 23 rd September – Sunday, 1 st October We can all take great photos these days with our smartphones, but Tim Peake’s snaps take things to whole new level as he took them in space. See 19 selected shots taken during Tim Peake’s time on the International Space Station . The exhibition runs for just one week and is included in the entry free for the wonderfully family-friendly ThinkTank science museum. 7) Rob Brydon Thursday, 28th September The hugely talented star of The Trip, Gavin and Stacey and Would I Lie To You? brings his latest show. to Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. Brydon is fast gaining ground as a National Treasure and this latest shpw - I Am Standing Up - has received rave reviews. The Telegraph's reviewer was thoroughly charmed and described the experience as, “like being warmed beside a roaring log fire.” Just the thing for late September as summer turns to autumn! Tickets start at £30.50. This is just a snapshot of the fantastic things to do in Birmingham this September. Our guest relations team are always happy to help with ideas before or during your stay. Stay cool at our 5* and 4* serviced apartments . They're perfectly located in Birmingham city centre for making the most of everything on offer. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for all the latest news and offers.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/cool-things-to-do-in-birmingham-september-2017/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/cool-things-to-do-in-birmingham-september-2017/Wed, 02 August 2017 19:37:18 Birmingham Restaurants - 5 Hidden Gemshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birmingham-restaurants-5-hidden-gems/We’ve all done it –drawn like a moth to the flame of a brand name restaurant that could be anywhere in the UK. However, it would be a grave shame to visit Birmingham and miss out on the best places to eat by playing too safe. After all, we’ve been placed in the top three foodie destinations in the UK ! We bring you 5 Hidden Gem Restaurants in Birmingham , so that you can go off the beaten path with confidence. The Button Factory B1 3HH You’ll find The Button Factory – with its heritage building and pared down interior – tucked away on the corner of Frederick Street and Regents Street in the Jewellery Quarter. The Button Factory also has a very popular roof garden. It’s a good choice for a celebratory meal plus cocktails with friends. and offers Bottomless Brunch from noon until 4pm on Saturdays. An English oak and charcoal grill is the Button Factory’s food USP. A sample grill dish from the current dinner menu is spring chicken, rose harissa &amp; preserved lemon served with fries &amp; gem, shallot &amp; radish salad for £14.00. Purecraft Bar and Kitchen B2 5TJ Purecraft is a great place for beer that also serves delicious food. You’ll find it at 30 Waterloo Street in Birmingham’s business district. Purecraft sources local suppliers where possible and works with the likes of Aubrey Allan, Mr Moyden Cheese and Forrest Pig. The place has a great atmosphere and the food is more gastro pub than fine dining (not a criticism). A sample large dish from the current menu is grilled mackerel, heritage toms, shallots and basil for £14.00. Each dish has a suggested beer with it on the menu. Small plates, bar snacks and desserts are also available. Opus B3 2DE Opus - on Cornwall Street a short walk from St Philip’s Cathedral - offers fine dining and class without stuffiness. We’re long-term fans of this place and admire the food and the team's commitment to sourcing top-quality ingredients. Opus is worth a visit any time of the year, but their Source Dinners where they invite the farmers, fishermen and winemakers they work with to the restaurant are a treat for any foodie. Opus currently offers two courses at lunch and dinner for £27.50 . Sample dishes include a starter of leek and haddock fishcake with poached egg and butter sauce, followed by grilled Jimmy Butler’s pork cutlet with colcannon mash, baby leeks, apples and crispy pork. Don’t miss Opus’s seasonal offers on delights such as lobster and oysters! The Warehouse Café B5 5TH The Warehouse Cafe justifiably won Best Vegetarian Restaurant in the 2017 Midlands Food Drink and Hospitality Awards. You’ll find it on Digbeth’s Allison Street (54-57) in a characterful, faded old building. It’s based in a converted warehouse (as you may have guessed from the name), but on the first floor above Friends of the Earth. The Warehouse Café is not glitzy and doesn't pretend to be, but it has a huge commitment to producing great food combined with green values. It is now fully-licensed with vegan beers and wines on offer. The food gets consistently rave reviews, so give it a try whether you are veggie or not. A sample main from the current Warehouse Café menu is green Thai curry served with lime jasmine rice and nam prik pao for £8.95 The Wilderness B5 4EG We must declare a bias here in that we rate The Wilderness so highly that we cooked up a special Dine &amp; Stay package with them . However, they are currently number two on TripAdvisor for restaurants in Birmingham (out of a field of 1,892!), so we’re certainly not the only ones feeling the love. The Wilderness is found at number 1 Dudley St, which is an uninspiring spot fronted by two phone boxes. However, we recommend that you book in well in advance, smile at the Bukowski quote on the door and enjoy delicious, edgy food plus the inspired interior. The Wilderness currently offers six courses for £60 on W ednesday and Thurs and eight courses for £70 for other evenings. A five-course lunch is also available at £35. Image: Tom Bird/The Wilderness Tempted by one or two of the above? Make a weekend of it and stay in one of our serviced apartments in Birmingham . Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for our latest offers.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birmingham-restaurants-5-hidden-gems/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birmingham-restaurants-5-hidden-gems/Thu, 06 July 2017 12:06:55 Be Festival 2017 - Get Your Karma Herehttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/be-festival-2017-get-your-karma-here/Feeling adventurous? We’re delighted to be supporting Birmingham’s BE Festival once again this year. It runs from July 4 th -8 th , 2017 . Why should you go? BE Fest laughs in the face of conventional theatre and it's a unique and wonderful place to be. This year, the lovely team at BE have given us some Karma - BE festival’s currency - to give away . We’ll be picking some Staying Cool guests at random during the festival to receive the Karma. This means that they’ll be able to enjoy a treat at BE Fest such as a free drink at the bar. If you have never attended BE Fest then you really should give it a try. We think that the interval dinners sum up the BE approach beautifully : each night after the first two shows, everyone’s invited to dine together on the Birmingham’s Rep’s main stage . This includes the audience and the performers. Isn't food is the perfect way to break down boundaries and connect with those who are normally ‘over there’ on the stage? BE Fest 2017 has attracted performers from countries all over Europe including Spain, Italy, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, France and (last but not least) the UK. Here’s what jumped out at us from an exciting programme : Tuesday July 4 th Indomador by Animal Religion (Spain) Online preview A comical take on how we build our identities featuring handstands, chicken masks, acrobatics and an array of characters. Wednesday July 5 th My Country Is What The Sea Doesn’t Want (Portugal) This is the story of young Portuguese immigrants to the UK who were driven to move abroad after the 2008 financial crisis. My Country Is What The Sea Doesn’t Want is based on interviews and the personal story of writer-director Richard Correia. Thursday July 6 th Légende (France/Portugal) Romain Teule’s performance lecture probes the different possibilities to be found in words. Légende was originally performed in Portuguese; but Tuele’s existential questions will now be posed in English. This is a thoughtful show prompting the audience to re-evaluate the things we take for granted. Friday July 7 th What Does Stuff Do? (UK) A recent graduate of Circomedia in Bristol, Robin Dale uses juggling, physical comedy, ping pong, and motivational speech to guide you through his mind and body of research. He achives all this wearing swimming trunks. Saturday July 8 th British Enough? (UK) Enter the British Enough Testing Zones, an immersive theatrical site-specific experience set in a future where British Citizenship is the ultimate prize. Enter a world where Britishness is manufactured and cultural identity must be won through ingenuity, endurance and psychological testing. You can see the full programme for Be Festival here .The venue is the Birmingham Rep, a pleasant walk away from our serviced apartments in the centre of Birmingham. If you are staying with us and attending BE Festival, please do let us know so that we can, hopefully, send some Karma currency your way!https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/be-festival-2017-get-your-karma-here/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/be-festival-2017-get-your-karma-here/Thu, 29 June 2017 15:46:15 Why serviced apartments are family friendly places to stayhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/why-serviced-apartments-are-family-friendly-places-to-stay/Looking for an alternative to squeezing your family into a hotel room? Here are our 7 top reasons why serviced apartments are family friendly places to stay: 1) More space to relax All parents know that more space equals less stress. You get 30% more space on average in a serviced apartment than in an equivalent hotel room. You’ll also appreciate the joy of separate sleeping and living spaces. 2) Enjoyable evenings If the kids are in their own room then you can stay up later and make the most of your apartment suite rather than having to go to bed when they do. Sharing an apartment with kids is simply far more civilised. 3) Saving on food and drinks Eating out can cost a fortune, especially with a whole family to pay for. With a kitchen of your own, serviced apartments give you the ultimate flexibility . Eat out if you want to, order in a takeaway, grab a supermarket ready meal or cook for yourselves. 4) Downtime Kids can get fractious if they are on the go all day. An apartment gives you plenty of space to relax with a cuppa while the kids recharge their batteries or enjoy a daytime nap. 5) No timetable Family life can be a bit frantic with school runs and clubs to get to and that’s the last thing you need on holiday. In an apartment, you can all relax and do what you want when you want . There’s no need to rush downstairs before breakfast finishes and a late-night snack can be rustled up in a flash. 6) Keep it clean We all know that kids can get filthy while they’re having fun! Most serviced apartments contain a washing machine , meaning that you can travel light and wash away any horrors. You won't need to worry about any other cleaning during your stay thanks to the housekeeping service . 7)The final bill Travelling with kids can be very hard on the wallet. Choose a serviced apartment and your rate is for the whole place rather than per person . Also, there are no hidden hotel extras or (horror of horrors) extortionately priced mini bars for your kids to raid while your back is turned. About Staying Cool at the Rotunda We hope that you've enjoyed '7 reasons why serviced apartments are family friendly places to stay'. We run 35 family-friendly serviced apartments at our aparthotel in Birmingham including two-bed penthouses and Maxis with large living spaces. They provide all of the above advantages to staying in a serviced apartment plus free, reliable Wi-Fi for the whole of your stay (vital with teens!) and a high-end SKY package . We also offer a complimentary package called Cool for Kids . It includes essentials such as free cots and highchairs plus treats for the kids on arrival.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/why-serviced-apartments-are-family-friendly-places-to-stay/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/why-serviced-apartments-are-family-friendly-places-to-stay/Tue, 13 June 2017 16:59:10 What not to bring when you stay in a serviced apartmenthttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/what-not-to-bring-when-you-stay-in-a-serviced-apartment/Our boutique serviced apartments look great, but we also want you to feel great when you come to stay . We've put a lot of thought into what we provide in the apartments, so that you can kick back and relax from the minute that you walk through the door. You'll arrive to find your super stylish Birmingham home ready to welcome you, so that you can feel at home with the minimum of fuss . Here are 17 things that you can leave at home when you stay with us in Birmingham: 1) Everything you need to make a great Fairtrade cuppa 2) A pint of fresh milk in your fridge 3) Espresso machine 4) Damn fine coffee 5) Fresh oranges for juicing 6) An electric juicer for those juicy oranges 7) Top-of-the-range SKY package 8) Music dock for your tunes 9) Travel books and magazines 10) Classic board games 11) Cooking essentials (balsamic vinegar, olive oil, pepper and salt grinders) 12) Full-size hairdryer (wild and free and not attached to the wall) 13) Iron (plus ironing board and w ashing machine - not that you'd pack those...) 14) Toweling robes and towels 15) Bedding (Egyptian cotton with bed/s already made up for you) 16) Hand-blended toiletries 17) Unglamorous essentials such as loo rolls and dishwasher tablets You'll also be pleased to find that our WiFi is easy to sign in to, free for your whole stay, powerful and reliable . Traveling with kids? We also offer extras such as cots and highchairs as part of our complimentary Cool for Kids package We hope to see you soon. In the meantime, why not join us on Facebook or Twitter for competitions, Birmingham news and special offers?https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/what-not-to-bring-when-you-stay-in-a-serviced-apartment/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/what-not-to-bring-when-you-stay-in-a-serviced-apartment/Sun, 11 June 2017 18:49:49 What’s On This Summer In Birmingham https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/whats-on-this-summer-in-birmingham/Birmingham is buzzing any time of year but summer 2017 is jam packed with festivals and cool events for visitors. Choose from utterly unique Brummie festivals, sport, food glorious food, a West End musical on tour, great live music and brilliant stuff for kids. Here are some of our faves. International Cricket June 2 nd -15 th There’s nothing finer (or more British) than taking a break from the stresses and strains of life by watching a game of cricket. This June, you can see world-class cricket at Edgbaston CC as it hosts the ICC Champions Trophy. Friday, 2nd June sees New Zealand v Australia; Sunday, 4th June India v Pakistan; Wednesday, 7th June Pakistan v South Africa; Saturday, 10th June England v Australia. Thursday, 15 th brings the semi-final. The Alternative ‘Cans’ Film Festival 15 th June – 7 th September Birmingham’s stellar indie cinema, The Electric, is running an alternative to the Cannes Film Festival this summer with the support of boutique beer producers. On June 15 th you can watch the brilliant High Fidelity while sipping on Island Records Session IPA. Later in the summer, you can see LA Confidential, From Russia With Love, Goodfellas , Twin Town, Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Huge respect to whoever decided to match the latter with Gunslinger IPA! Supersonic Festival 16 th -18 th June Like to walk on the wild side? Supersonic is a truly unique festival that celebrates experimental music. We’re supporting Supersonic by hosting Anna von Hausswolf and her band when they come to play the launch gig of the festival. Colmore Food Festival 30th June-1st July Are you a foodie? The Colmore Food Festival transforms Birmingham’s main square into street food heaven . Entry is free and dishes are capped at £4, so it’s a great way to try new things. Many of Birmingham’s leading restaurants and bars set up stall at the festival. 2017’s line up includes (deep breath) Asha's , Bar Opus, Ginger's Bar , Gaucho, Gusto, Hotel du Vin, Jekyll &amp; Hyde, JoJoLapa, Nosh &amp; Quaff, Old Contemptibles, Opus at Cornwall Street , Primitivo, Purecraft Bar &amp; Kitchen, Purnell's Restaurant , The Square Peg, The Alchemist, The Bureau, The Old Joint Stock, The Wellington, Viva Brazil and Zen. Musical Picnic – Saturday, 1 st July Want to intrigue your friends? Tell them that you are off to this Organ Picnic at Birmingham Town Hall . Kit Downes will take you on a journey through the sounds of the Symphony Hall’s historic organ accompanied by saxophonist Tom Challenger. The Big Sleuth July – Sept Do you have kids? The Big Hoot trail was a massive success back in 2015 and now The Big Sleuth will bring hours of amusement over the summer and all in aid of our wonderful Birmingham Children’s Hospital . 100 painted bear sculptures will be placed around Birmingham. Each bear’s design is unique and tracking them down will be really fun. Why not book one of our two-bed Maxi apartments and spend a couple of days doing some serious sleuthing? BE Fest 4th-8 th July Be Fest is a most unconventional theatre festival that takes place at Birmingham Rep. Be Fest is short for Birmingham European Festival and, as such, performers from all over Europe come to the city for the week. Be Fest is boundary breaking, thought provoking and often great fun. Mostly Jazz Funk &amp; Soul Festival 7th-9 th July We have only one thing to say on this always great festival – Chaka Khan is headlining. Matt Haig - How To Stop Time 12 th July The film rights to How To Stop Time have already been sold and Benedict Cumberbatch is attached to star and exec produce! Impress your friends by reading the book before the film is made and meet the author. The price of £12 included a copy of the book. This Waterstone’s event is taking place just yards from our Rotunda apartments. Miss Saigon 26 th July- 23 rd September Why not treat yourself to a West End musical experience without the crippling West End prices and see Miss Saigon at Birmingham Hippodrome ? This award-winning Cameron Mackintosh production was described by The Times as “thrilling, soaring and spectacular.” Photo credit; Matthew Murphy Spy School 7th-12th August We’re really miffed that we’re too old for this as it sounds brilliant! 7-12 year olds can go to spy school this summer at Birmingham Rep. The trainee spies will spend a week of the summer holidays saving the world and learning about cool things like as cracking codes and following suspects . Why not make a break of it? All this and more is on this summer in Birmingham. Make the most of the city by staying in one of our serviced apartments right at the centre of the city. We have a limited amount of studio apartments available every night of the week for only £99 per apartment per night .https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/whats-on-this-summer-in-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/whats-on-this-summer-in-birmingham/Sat, 03 June 2017 14:10:57 Half Term Fun For Kids In Brum - May 2017https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/half-term-fun-for-kids-in-brum-may-2017/There are some brilliant options for entertaining kids at BMAG (Birmingham Museum &amp; Art Gallery) and ThinkTank , (Birmingham Science Museum) this half term. Birmingham Museum &amp; Art Gallery Get your kids into myths, legends and tales. There’s a free family trail running at BMAG until Friday 2 nd June which will help them to unearth the stories told throughout the galleries and artworks. Love dressing up? Kids can transform themselves into characters from myths and legends - or even one of BMAG’s paintings - from Tuesday, 30 th May to Thursday, 1 st June. The Portrait Studio costs only £1 a print and there’s no need to pre-book. Hear Cleopatra’s tales on Thursday, 1 st June. Your brave explorers will also be asked to solve a mysterious code of the Egyptian map. Your kids could win free tickets for ThinkTank if they complete their mission. There's also a Pokemon Go Hunt on at the museum from 11am-4pm on Thursday. Last but not least, a free Minecraft Mask sessions will be back on Friday 2 nd June in the Gas Hal ThinkTank Do your kids love Springwatch? Why not head for the newly expanded ThinkTank wildlife gallery ? Find out about the wildlife in Birmingham, such as otters and peregrines. ThinkTank half-term activities include The Obvious Elephant Storytelling for Under 8s, a Fly Me To The Moon show, wildlife arts and craft sessions , and object handling where you can get up close to some fascinating artifacts. Visit Thinktank during half term and you can also check out Totality , a huge rotating mirror ball that illuminates and sparkles with over 10,000 images of nearly every solar eclipse documented by humankind.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/half-term-fun-for-kids-in-brum-may-2017/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/half-term-fun-for-kids-in-brum-may-2017/Tue, 30 May 2017 11:22:51 Our Facebook Page Reaches 5,000 Milestonehttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/our-facebook-page-reaches-5-000-milestone/We were delighted to finally reach 5,000 Likes on our company Facebook page this week. We've grown the page slowly over the past few years and use it to tell people about things/people we love, what's coming up in Birmingham and about special offers in our Birmingham serviced apartments. If you're not already following us on Facebook, we'd love you to come and join us over there . If you are already with us, then a big thank you for your support.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/our-facebook-page-reaches-5-000-milestone/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/our-facebook-page-reaches-5-000-milestone/Sat, 27 May 2017 12:42:13 Win Tickets For Supersonic Festival And A Stayhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/win-tickets-for-supersonic-festival-and-a-stay/Are you into experimental music? We're fans (and supporters) of Supersonic Festival and are really delighted to be running a competition in league with them. You could win tickets for the launch of this year's festival followed by a night in one of our chic Mini studio apartments . Anna Van Hausswolf will play the organ - installed in 1834 - at Birmingham's Town Hall. Van Hausswolff and her eight-piece band will cast their avant-garde spell on this special venue. To enter the competition, simply go over to our Facebook page and comment on the competition post. Terms and conditions apply 1) The competition will run from Thursday, 25th June - Sunday, 28th June at midnight. The winner will be announced on Monday, 29th June,2017. 2) The prize is two tickets for Anna Von Hausswolf'sconvert at Supersonic Festival on Friday, June 16th wand a night for two in a Mini apartment at Staying Cool in Birmingham. 3) The stay can only be made on Friday, June 15th and is not transferable. 4) Automated entries, bulk entries or third party entries will be disqualified. 5) The winner will be chosen at random from all correct and valid entries. 6) The winner will be contacted via email and their name will be displayed on our website and via Facebook. 7) Staying Cool is compliant with the data protection act. We will not pass on your details to any organisation other than the winner's to Supersonic. 8) Entrants must be over 18. At least one guest must be over 21 when the stay is made. 9) Travel is not included. 10) This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to Staying Cool and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used by Staying Cool.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/win-tickets-for-supersonic-festival-and-a-stay/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/win-tickets-for-supersonic-festival-and-a-stay/Thu, 25 May 2017 19:41:04 Stay This July And August For Only £99 Per Mini Apartmenthttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/stay-this-july-and-august-for-only-99-per-mini-apartment/We're offering a very special rate of £99 on our cool Mini studio apartments this summer. Make the most of an unbeatable location and your own studio apartment with space to relax and a cool Poggenpohl kitchen . Revel in the privacy of an apartment backed up with our award-winning customer service . Our Minis give you 370 square feet to enjoy. Huge floor-to-ceiling windows flood the studios with light by day and make the most of fantastic Birmingham cityscapes by night. Availability is limited. Snap up an apartment for only £99 per apartment per night from July 24th to September 2nd, 2017 . Please note that no discount code is required.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/stay-this-july-and-august-for-only-99-per-mini-apartment/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/stay-this-july-and-august-for-only-99-per-mini-apartment/Wed, 24 May 2017 20:17:53 The Foodies Festival Tour Hits Birmingham This Junehttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/foodies-festival-tour/The UK's biggest food festival - Foodies Festival - is coming to Birmingham next month. Foodies runs from Friday, June 23rd to Sunday, June 25th. Highlights include the chance to see Candice Brown - 2016's Great British Bake Off Winner - baking live in The Cakes &amp; Desserts Theatre. Two of Birmingham's Michelin-starred chefs, Brad Carter of Carters of Moseley and Nathan Eades of Simpsons, will cook in the Chefs Theatre as will MasterChef’s Juanita Hennessey, Saira Hamilton and Dhruv Baker . Enjoy the Street Food Avenue ; Cake and Bake Theatre; Vintage Tea Tent ; wine tasting , champagne and craft beer and local produce in the Artisan Market. Kids (under 12s are free) should enjoy the Children's Cookery Theatre with Kiddy Cook . There's also live music, a chilli eating competition, Bar Bus cocktails and a Pimms Teapot! VIP tickets start at £35 and include a glass of fizz on arrival, access to the VIP area and a goody bag to take home with you. You'll also enjoy priority entry to the theatres, masterclass sessions and refreshments, so you can make the most of the packed schedule. Enjoy use of the exclusive VIP bar with refreshments available all day. A day at Foodies Festival can easily be combined with a night or two in one of our chic serviced apartments and all that the Second City has to offer. Check out VisitBirmingham for lots of inspiring ideas.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/foodies-festival-tour/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/foodies-festival-tour/Fri, 19 May 2017 15:08:30 Nick George Photos From IGersBirmingham After Hourshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/nick-george-photos-from-igersbirmingham-after-hours/Nick George was one of the winners of our recent competition in conjunction with IgersBirmingham . A small group of photographers won the chance to capture the views over Birmingham from our serviced apartments. Nick's shots were taken from the balcony of one of our 5* penthouses apartments. Congratulations, Nick! Good work.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/nick-george-photos-from-igersbirmingham-after-hours/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/nick-george-photos-from-igersbirmingham-after-hours/Wed, 17 May 2017 13:58:46 Birmingham Pride Offer - Special Rate And Fizzhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birmingham-pride-offer-special-rate-and-fizz/Why not make the most of Birmingham Pride 2017 by booking in with us for the long weekend? Choose one of our Mini studio serviced apartments for Pride, pay only £99 per apartment per night and enjoy a complimentary bottle of pink fizz on arrival . You must stay Friday-Sunday (May 26th-28th inclusive). Bag yourself a gorgeous, city-centre pad for the weekend at this great rate using the code PRIDE2017 Stay all three nights and really make the most of the UK's biggest LGBT event. The Love and Pride themed Carnival Parade kicks off at noon on Saturday in Victoria Square, just a couple of minutes away from our serviced apartments. Saturday's headliners include Basement Jaxx and Dua Lipa . Sunday's performers include Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Jamelia and Charlotte Church with her Late Night Pop Dungeon. Book our special PRIDE2017 Mini offer and enjoy maximum fun.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birmingham-pride-offer-special-rate-and-fizz/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birmingham-pride-offer-special-rate-and-fizz/Tue, 16 May 2017 12:02:10 Staying Cool At The Rotunda Is Nine Years Old!https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cool-at-the-rotunda-is-nine-years-old/We marked Staying Cool at the Rotunda's ninth birthday this weekend and, to celebrate, we treated all of Saturday's guests to cake. We're very proud to be flying the flag for serviced apartments in Birmingham and to offer Birmingham's only 5* accommodation . We're very passionate about what we do and that hasn't changed across those nine years. Happy birthday to us!https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cool-at-the-rotunda-is-nine-years-old/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cool-at-the-rotunda-is-nine-years-old/Sun, 14 May 2017 16:08:11 Enjoy These Little Extras On Your Key Fobhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/enjoy-these-little-extras-on-your-key-fob/We have some great news! For some time now, we've given all of our guests a Gastro Card to use while they are staying with us at our serviced apartments. We're delighted to say that we're now giving guests an Independent Birmingham card too. The Gastro Card is a restaurant discount card and using it earns you exclusive offers, such as a free bottle of wine or 25% off your bill . Birmingham bars and restaurants of the calibre of Adam's , Purnell's Bistro and Asha's are included in the Gastro Card line up. The Independent Birmingham card covers 90 independent Birmingham businesses ranging from cafes , restaurants, theatres, bars and shops to places to stay in Birmingham (including us). Membership of these schemes costs £45 pe,r annum, but you'll benefit from them for nothing when you stay with us. Both cards will be on your key fob when you check in. Image courtesy of Bar Opus (covered by Gastro Card and Independent Birmingham and a Staying Cool favourite)https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/enjoy-these-little-extras-on-your-key-fob/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/enjoy-these-little-extras-on-your-key-fob/Wed, 10 May 2017 12:01:21 Welcome IGers Birmingham Winners!https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/welcome-igers-birmingham-winners/One of the stand-out factors of our serviced apartments are the views - they're very photogenic. We recently hatched a plan with the Instagramers Birmingham group to run a competition to give eight photographers access to one of our penthouses, so that they could get some shots of Birmingham from 20 floors up. IGersBirmingham ran a competition over the long May Day weekend to submit a shot of our Rotunda home using the hashtag #stayingcoolafterhours. There were more than 200 images submitted and it was very hard to select just eight images. The winners were Beth Astington, Kris Askey, Martin O'Callaghan, Tim Cornbill, Christian Hauzars, Nick George, Tori Blake, James Burnett and Debbie Jones . They all came along with Fraser McGee of IGersBirmingham on Sunday evening to capture the sunset and cityscapes from one of our 5* penthouses. The results were excellent. If you'd like to see all of the entries then simply search for #stayingcoolafterhours on Instagram. Why not follow our account (stayingcoolapartments) while you're there? Images seen here courtesy of Fraser McGee.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/welcome-igers-birmingham-winners/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/welcome-igers-birmingham-winners/Mon, 08 May 2017 20:43:29 The Coolest Place To Stay In Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-coolest-place-to-stay-in-birmingham/Book one of our design-led serviced apartments and you'll find yourself in the coolest place to stay in Birmingham . This city is a creative place that celebrates individuality. Enjoy great design and live like a super-stylish local in an iconic building. We offer something that is only available here in Birmingham and each of our apartments is individually designed. Here are five reasons why Staying Cool at the Rotunda is the coolest place to stay in Birmingham: The Rotunda building itself is unique. It's a tubular 1960s skyscraper that was transformed into apartments by Urban Splash . Our stylish interiors were inspired by the Rotunda's sixties heritage and they are the perfect antidote to bland hotel rooms. We blend midcentury modern furniture with the best of British designers such as Tom Dixon and Lou Rota . Our sleek, white kitchens are by Poggenpohl . You'll find seriously good coffee and seriously good coffee makers on hand. Each apartment has floor to ceiling windows meaning that the views, especially at night, really are something special. Tempted by the coolest place to stay in Birmingham? Choose from a two-bedroom penthouse with a large wraparound balcony, a two-bed Maxi , a one-bed Clubman or a Mini studio apartment. Our apartments may be cool, but we are warm and helpful, so please call us on 0121 285 1290 or email hello@stayingcool.com if you have any questions. All of our serviced apartments Birmingham can also be booked online .https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-coolest-place-to-stay-in-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-coolest-place-to-stay-in-birmingham/Sat, 06 May 2017 20:56:10 Come Stay In Our Boutique Birmingham Apart Hotel https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/come-stay-in-our-boutique-birmingham-apart-hotel/We tend to describe Staying Cool at the Rotunda as serviced apartments, but in some countries the term apart hotel is more popular. We prefer to use 'boutique apart hotel' as that reflects our obsession with style and service. Every one of our serviced apartments is individually designed with quality touches such as bespoke furniture and a sleek Poggenpohl kitchen. Our award-winning service also backs up that boutique apart hotel feel as our Guest Relations team is passionate about making guests go home feeling happy. As at a hotel, you'll arrive at Staying Cool at the Rotunda to find the beds made up with fresh bed linen. Towels, towelling robes, hand-blended toiletries are all on hand. You'll also be offered a free housekeeping service if you'd like it. However, as serviced apartments are typically 30% bigger than standard hotel rooms, you will also find a well-equipped kitchen, washing/ironing facilities and a lounge area (even in our smallest studio apartments ). Whether you are on business or having a weekend away that all adds up to a truly relaxing and flexible stay. Next time you are planning a trip, book into our boutique apart hotel Birmingham. You won't regret it.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/come-stay-in-our-boutique-birmingham-apart-hotel/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/come-stay-in-our-boutique-birmingham-apart-hotel/Wed, 03 May 2017 15:04:56 Things To Do In Birmingham - May 2017https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/things-to-do-in-birmingham-may-2017/Birmingham is a vibrant city whatever time of year you visit, but as the weather warms up in May we see the number of festivals increase. May 2017 sees the return of an established festival favourite, plus a new kid on the festival block. Birmingham Pride (27th-28th May) is one of the UK's biggest LGBT festivals. Over 75,000 people watched the parade in 2016 and all are welcome. Performers for 2017 include Basement Jaxx, Gabrielle, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and main-stage headliner Dua Lipa. Birmingham's brand new festival is the Independent Birmingham Festival , which takes place on Saturday, 13th May at The Bond in Digbeth from noon-6pm. Enjoy restaurant pop-ups, street food, cocktails, craft beer, local artists, designers and retailers - all of them proudly independent like ourselves. The Electric - Britain's oldest working cinema - never fails to impress us with its imaginative programming - a million miles away from a multiplex! This month's pick is certainly not cheap, but it's a truly unique experience. On May 12th, you could attend a gala showing of Midnight in Paris being run in conjunction with Annexe restaurant. Guests are encouraged to dress to impress, donning their finest golden age outfits. The evening starts at Annexe with a classic champagne cocktail and a menu with a Parisian flavour, accompanied by live gypsy jazz from the group Strumpit. Not your average Friday night! We're huge fans of the photographer Verity Milligan and on May 20th you can Meet The Artist at her current exhibition at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter. Some of Verity's stunning shots were taken from our penthouse apartments. Go along to see if the two images used for this blog made the cut. Why not make the most of our quick pick above and stay over at our serviced apartments Birmingham ? They're in an outstanding central location, so you'll be able to make the most of your time in Birmingham.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/things-to-do-in-birmingham-may-2017/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/things-to-do-in-birmingham-may-2017/Mon, 01 May 2017 13:26:42 Stay This Weekend For Just £56 PPPNhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/stay-this-weekend-for-just-56-pppn/Stay for only £56 per person per night this Bank Holiday weekend. Enjoy a chic, unique 4* Mini apartment for two at this very special price. You must stay Friday, Saturday &amp; Sunday (April 28th-May 1st inclusive) . We'll also have a bottle of prosecco chilling for you on arrival. Use code SUNDAYSPECIAL online . Our Mini serviced apartments give you so much more than a dull hotel room. They all combine great design and views across the city with space to relax and a Poggenpohl galley kitchen. Make the most of the Bank Holiday weekend in this unbeatable city-centre location.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/stay-this-weekend-for-just-56-pppn/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/stay-this-weekend-for-just-56-pppn/Thu, 27 April 2017 16:33:49 Edwardian Tearooms Comp - Win A Cream Tea And A Stayhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/edwardian-tearooms-comp-win-a-cream-tea-and-a-stay/How does a lavish afternoon tea for two followed by a night in one of our Mini apartments sound to you? We're in cahoots with BMAG (Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery) to give away a prize that combines the two. Birmingham's Edwardian Tearooms have been beautifully renovated and offer a really elegant spot to enjoy a traditional afternoon tea. Loosen your belts and enjoy scones with strawberry preserve &amp; Devon clotted cream, a selection of sandwiches plus cakes. Choose from loose leaf tea or freshly ground coffee and then, later, relax back at your chic apartment. You can only enter the competition via the Facebook page for the Edwardian Tearooms at BMAG. Best of British!https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/edwardian-tearooms-comp-win-a-cream-tea-and-a-stay/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/edwardian-tearooms-comp-win-a-cream-tea-and-a-stay/Wed, 26 April 2017 16:09:25 International Cricket This Summer At Edgbastonhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/international-cricket-this-summer-at-edgbaston/If you are hoping to enjoy some great cricket this summer then get booking for Edgbaston . Highlights for 2017 include England versus the West Indies and the NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day. Why not make the most of the city while you are here for the cricket and book into one of our serviced apartments at the centre of Birmingham? They're stylish, relaxed places to stay and every apartment benefits from a high-end Sky package, so you can keep up with other sports. Edgbaston is easy to reach by public transport or taxi. Enjoy the second city's excellent culture, shopping restaurants and bars alongside world-class sport. You can see the full cricket schedule below and book tickets online Warwickshire vs Nottinghamshire Fri 5 May 2017 , 11am Warwickshire vs Lancashire Sun 7 May 2017 , 11am Warwickshire vs Yorkshire Sun 14 May 2017 11am New Zealand vs Australia ODI Car Park Fri 2 June 2017 , 11am India vs Pakistan ODI Car Park Sun 4 June 2017 , 11am Pakistan vs South Africa ODI Car Park Wed 7 June 2017 , 1.30pm England vs Australia ODI Car Park Sat 10 June 2017 , 11am Semi Final - A2 vs B1 ODI Car Park Thu 15 June 2017 , 11am Birmingham Bears vs Notts Outlaws Sat 8 July 2017 , 7pm Birmingham Bears vs Northants Steelbacks Fri 14 July 2017 , 7pm Birmingham Bears vs Leicestershire Foxes Sun 16 July 2017 , 2.30pm Birmingham Bears vs Derbyshire Falcons Sun 23 July 2017 , 2.30pm Birmingham Bears vs Yorkshire Vikings Fri 28 July 2017 , 7pm Birmingham Bears vs Lancashire Lightning Sun 30 July 2017 , 2.30pm Birmingham Bears vs Worcestershire Rapids Fri 4 August 2017 , 7pm England vs West Indies Day 1 Thu 17 August 2017 , 2pm England vs West Indies Day 2 Fri 18 August 2017 , 2pm England vs West Indies Day 3 Sat 19 August 2017 , 2pm England vs West Indies Day 4 Sun 20 August 2017 , 2pm NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day Sat 2 September 2017 , 11amhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/international-cricket-this-summer-at-edgbaston/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/international-cricket-this-summer-at-edgbaston/Fri, 14 April 2017 14:35:54 Weekend Offers At Our Serviced Apartmentshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/weekend-offers-at-our-serviced-apartments/Planning a weekend away in Birmingham? We have two exclusive offers which will make your money go further. Our Sunday Special gives you Sunday night half price if you have stayed with us on the Friday and Saturday whilst our Alternative Weekend is a special deal for those who can stay with us on a Sunday and Monday night. The offers apply to all of our apartments from 5* penthouses , Maxis and Clubmans to our 4* Mini studios . Stay in style in our unique apartments with these leisure offers and make excellent savings.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/weekend-offers-at-our-serviced-apartments/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/weekend-offers-at-our-serviced-apartments/Wed, 12 April 2017 09:58:32 The most family friendly hotel in Birmingham?https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-most-family-friendly-hotel-in-birmingham/Looking for a family friendly hotel in Birmingham? We set up our serviced apartments in Birmingham back in 2008 with our eyes firmly on the business traveller. However, we soon realised that parents were seeking us out as serviced apartments are a fantastic solution for family trips. Why is that? Quite simply, renting an apartment makes a family trip much more relaxed. Take our Maxi apartments : they give you two bedrooms - each with an ensuite - plus a spacious living room/diner with a well-equipped kitchen. Whether you have toddlers or teens, life in a Maxi means that your family can go at its own pace. Add in great interiors, our complimentary Cool for Kids package and a central location that minimises hassle and you will soon be getting an award for outstanding parenting!https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-most-family-friendly-hotel-in-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-most-family-friendly-hotel-in-birmingham/Sun, 09 April 2017 16:07:57 Looking for a boutique hotel in Birmingham?https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/looking-for-a-boutique-hotel-in-birmingham/With their stylish interiors and small size, boutique hotels have been one of the biggest successes of the last 20 years in the hotel industry. Our chic serviced apartments in Birmingham combine the flair of a boutique hotel with the privacy and space of an apartment. Staying Cool at the Rotunda's 5* and 4* apartments are furnished with pieces from the best British designers such as Timorous Beasties, Tom Dixon and Paul Smith. Our sleek kitchens are by Poggenpohl.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/looking-for-a-boutique-hotel-in-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/looking-for-a-boutique-hotel-in-birmingham/Fri, 07 April 2017 15:26:20 Experts' Choice Award for Rotunda Apartmentshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/experts-choice-award-for-rotunda-apartments/Our serviced apartments in Birmingham have once again received an Experts' Choice Award from TripExpert. The Award reflects the views of journalists and professional travel writers and is given to only the best hotels around the world. Less than 2% of all hotels worldwide receive the award. With praise from publications like Fodor's , The Telegraph and Rough Guide , Staying Cool at the Rotunda is the top ranking place to stay in Birmingham on TripExpert.com.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/experts-choice-award-for-rotunda-apartments/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/experts-choice-award-for-rotunda-apartments/Tue, 04 April 2017 09:29:07 Celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight at Staying Coolhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/celebrating-fairtrade-fortnight-at-staying-cool/It's Fairtrade Fortnight, but we're proud to say that we support Fairtrade all year round at Staying Cool. We provide our guests with Fairtrade teas and hot chocolate. Why do we support Fairtrade? Buying products with the Fairtrade mark supports farmers in developing countries, giving them more control over their future and the community in which their families live and work. Our support of Fairtrade is one of the things that helped us to gain a Green Tourism award.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/celebrating-fairtrade-fortnight-at-staying-cool/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/celebrating-fairtrade-fortnight-at-staying-cool/Sat, 01 April 2017 20:37:01 The Flatpack Film Festival Competition https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-flatpack-film-festival-competition/We love to support cultural events happening in Birmingham and Flatpack film fest is one of our favourites. We have a great Flatpack package to give away for Saturday, April 8th. You could win two tickets for the silent movie Lucky Star with a live score by Ela Orleans plus a night in one of our Mini serviced apartments in Birmingham and champagne on arrival. Please enter via our Facebook page . Terms and conditions 1) The competition will run from Tuesday, 28th March - Sunday, 2nd April 2017 at 6pm. 2) The prize is a night for two in a Mini apartment at Staying Cool in Birmingham with a bottle of champagne on arrival plus two tickets for Lucky Star at Flatpack festival. 3) The stay can only be made on Saturday, 8th April and is not transferable. 4) Automated entries, bulk entries or third party entries will be disqualified. 5) The winner will be chosen at random from all correct and valid entries. 6) The winner will be contacted via Facebook. 7) Staying Cool is compliant with the data protection act. We will not pass on your details other than the name of the winner to Flatpack, so that your tickets can be provided. 8) Entrants must be over 18. At least one guest must be over 21 when the stay is made. 9) Travel is not included. 10) This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to Staying Cool and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used by Staying Cool.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-flatpack-film-festival-competition/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-flatpack-film-festival-competition/Tue, 28 March 2017 13:19:19 Little Extras That Make All The Differencehttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/little-extras-that-make-all-the-difference/We put a lot of thought into getting things right for our guests. Travel can be tiring and few things are more important than feeling happy with your accommodation on arrival. That's why we make sure that we pop lots of little extras into the apartments so that you can make yourself at home straight away. A nice cup of tea is essential. You'll have everything you need to make the perfect cuppa (including fresh milk in the fridge) and an Illy coffee maker if an Americano is more your style. We also provide kitchen essentials such as olive oil and a pepper grinder, so you can get cooking. Fresh oranges and Rude Health breakfast cereals mean that you are set up for first thing in the morning too. Fluffy toweling robes, towels and hand-blended toiletries add to the feeling of relaxation. We think you'll agree that our little extras add up to a great start at our stylish Birmingham apartments .https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/little-extras-that-make-all-the-difference/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/little-extras-that-make-all-the-difference/Thu, 23 March 2017 18:25:07 One Love: The Bob Marley Musical At Birmingham Rephttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/one-love-the-bob-marley-musical-at-birmingham-rep/One Love: The Bob Marley Musical opened this week at the Rep in Birmingham. One Love was written by Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE, who's best known piece is Elmina's Kitchen at the National Theatre. The musical focuses on a dramatic period in Bob Marley's life: his Jamaican homeland is on the brink of civil war and he's called upon to unite his people with his music. One Love is getting glowing reviews in the press and on social media around Birmingham and, despite its serious message, should send you home on a real high. Get tickets if you can!https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/one-love-the-bob-marley-musical-at-birmingham-rep/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/one-love-the-bob-marley-musical-at-birmingham-rep/Wed, 22 March 2017 16:21:53 The Serviced Apartment Awards - the Resultshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-serviced-apartment-awards-the-results/We didn't bring home a trophy from the Serviced Apartment Awards 2017 , which were held in London on Monday . However , we are very proud to have made the final three of what was described by the host as "the most coveted" category: Best Serviced Apartment. The awards are open to serviced apartment companies anywhere in the world, so to make the shortlist of three was a huge achievement for Staying Cool at the Rotunda. We'd like to pass on our congratulations to the category winners Staybridge Suites London - Stratford City and to our fellow runners up Fraser Suites Kensingtonhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-serviced-apartment-awards-the-results/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-serviced-apartment-awards-the-results/Tue, 21 March 2017 14:13:40 Serviced Apartment Awards 2017 In Londonhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/serviced-apartment-awards-2017-in-london/Our serviced apartments in Birmingham are up for a prestigious international award tonight. The Serviced Apartment Awards are taking place in London and we're honoured to have been shortlisted for Best Serviced Apartment. We're up against stiff competition from two London locations ( Fraser Suites Kensington and Staybridge Stratford ). We are very proud as a small, independent business to have made it into the final with two global brands. Good luck to all finalists later today.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/serviced-apartment-awards-2017-in-london/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/serviced-apartment-awards-2017-in-london/Mon, 20 March 2017 11:26:15 A Cleaner Environment: Two Years of Magic Water https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/a-cleaner-environment-two-years-of-magic-water/We've now proudly completed two years using a chemical-free method to clean our Birmingham apartments. It's called liquid ozone technology (aka magic water). This technology allows us to get our serviced apartments really clean for guests without damaging the environment. Liquid ozone technology has existed for more than 75 years, but only recently has it become accessible by smaller companies such as Staying Cool. The ozone systems work by applying a small amount of electricity to tap water, infusing the water with ozone. During cleaning, the ozone in the solution helps lift dirt from surfaces. Our housekeepers are left with only a bucket of dirty water to pour away and no chemicals whatsoever go down the drain. Our investment in 'magic water' is one of the initiatives that helped us to earn a coveted Green Tourism Awardhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/a-cleaner-environment-two-years-of-magic-water/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/a-cleaner-environment-two-years-of-magic-water/Wed, 15 March 2017 15:03:06 Celebrating International Women's Dayhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/celebrating-international-womens-day/We love to treat our guests to unexpected little extras. Yesterday was International Women's Day, so we ran out to the shops and treated every female guest to Lush bath bombs to take home with them.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/celebrating-international-womens-day/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/celebrating-international-womens-day/Thu, 09 March 2017 12:25:00 Serviced Apartment Awards Finalistshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/serviced-apartment-awards-finalists/There have been smiles all round in the office this week as we found out that we have reached the final of the Serviced Apartment Awards 2017 . These are international awards and we are in the final three for the Best Serviced Apartment category alongside Fraser Suites Kensington and Staybridge Suites Stratford City . We'll find out the results of the Serviced Apartment Awards at a ceremony in London on March 20th. Watch this space to see if we are the lucky winners.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/serviced-apartment-awards-finalists/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/serviced-apartment-awards-finalists/Thu, 02 March 2017 15:07:09 National Bed Month: NASA technologyhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/national-bed-month-nasa-technology/National Bed Month kicks off tomorrow. We take providing our guests with a great night's sleep very seriously indeed. Did you know that the mattresses in our Birmingham serviced apartments use technology developed by NASA? They're called The Ultimate. We're talking kingsize and pocket sprung with memory foam. We use the same bed in all of our apartments whatever the size, from our 5* two-bedroom penthouses to our 4* studio apartments . Dive in!https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/national-bed-month-nasa-technology/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/national-bed-month-nasa-technology/Tue, 28 February 2017 15:15:41 Brilliant Guided Tours at Birmingham Museumhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/brilliant-guided-tours-at-birmingham-museum/We always recommend BMAG ( Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery ) to our guests. It's just a couple of minutes walk away from our Birmingham serviced apartments and you can see genuinely world-class art and artefacts for free. On Saturday afternoons you can also enjoy guided tours to help you to get the most of what's on offer. There are two tours (Treasures of the Museum at noon and What a Beautiful World - Landscape Painting at 4pm) and they cost £3 per person. Full information herehttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/brilliant-guided-tours-at-birmingham-museum/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/brilliant-guided-tours-at-birmingham-museum/Thu, 23 February 2017 20:46:35 5 Supercool Birmingham Festivalshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/5-supercool-birmingham-festivals/We adore festivals here in Birmingham: some are family friendly, some are for foodies and some are pretty darn niche. We’d like toflag some of the more quirky festivals coming up over the next few months. Between April and July, Birmingham will offer you Flatpack (film), The Independent Birmingham Festival (all-round indie fabulousness), Supersonic (edgy music) and BE Fest (innovative performing arts). Dare to be different and give one or more a try. 1) Flatpack Film Fest 4th-9 th April Flatpack calls itself a “week-long celebration of cinematic joy and audio-visual delights” and we don’t think that we can better that, frankly. The full programme launches in early March, but selected highlights have been released. 2) Swingamajig April 30th Party like it’s 1929! Swingamajig is dedicated to Electro Swing, Gypsy Folk and vintage mayhem. This unique festival takes the sounds and styles of the 1920′s and gives them a contemporary twist. The main Swingamajig action takes place in a Big Top, which pleases us greatly. Check out live music, DJs, swing dancers, acrobats and vintage cinema. Swingamajig image credits C.Faruolo 3) Independent Birmingham Festival 13 th May A new festival kid on the Birmingham block. This one-day festival strikes us an excellent way to discover the coolest food, drinks, design and art in Birmingham. Only businesses covered the by the Independent Birmingham card can trade at this new event, which should ensure great quality. 4) Supersonic Festival 16 th -18 th June Into adventurous music? Supersonic is definitely the festival for you. 2017’s line-up includes Jenny Hval, Colin Stetson and Princess Nokia. Supersonic will – rather fabulously – kick off this year in Birmingham’s Grade I Listed Town Hall with a performance on the venue’s pipe organ by Swedish musician Anna Von Hausswolff. 5) BE Fest 4th-8 th July Be Fest is proudly unconventional. The 2017 programme is yet to be confirmed, but you are guaranteed an innovative programme of theatre, dance, comedy, circus, music, visual and performing arts. Watch highlights of 2015 here to get a taste of what to expect. Why not make the most of Birmingham’s cultural life by staying in style in one of our Birmingham serviced apartments ? Just like the 5 festivals featured above, we're unique to Birmingham too.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/5-supercool-birmingham-festivals/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/5-supercool-birmingham-festivals/Tue, 21 February 2017 18:40:03 Our MD Joins Birmingham Museum's Trusthttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/our-managing-director-joins-birmingham-museums-trust/We're delighted to announce that our MD, Tracey Stephenson - who worked in arts and culture for several years - has just become an Associate Trustee at Birmingham Museums Trust . Tracey will become a Full Trustee in July.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/our-managing-director-joins-birmingham-museums-trust/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/our-managing-director-joins-birmingham-museums-trust/Mon, 20 February 2017 18:34:51 Supporting Verve Poetry Festivalhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/supporting-verve-poetry-festival/The first ever Verve Poetry Festival is taking place this weekend in Birmingham. We're delighted to be supporting this newcomer to the city's busy festival scene by hosting a Verve poet for two nights at our serviced apartments (handily located just yards away from the venue for Verve!). Birmingham has such a thriving, independent cultural scene and we're proud to be able to support Verve. Verve is being held at Waterstone's bookstore from February 16th-19th.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/supporting-verve-poetry-festival/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/supporting-verve-poetry-festival/Tue, 14 February 2017 13:33:13 Five reasons to book direct with Staying Coolhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/five-reasons-to-book-direct-with-staying-cool/The team here at our serviced apartments in Birmingham have five great reasons why you should book direct with us: 1. You will ALWAYS get the cheapest rates (and special offers) - guaranteed 2. You'll be rewarded for booking direct with a free bottle of wine or overnight parking 3. Because you're dealing directly with us, we'll get to know your likes, dislikes and your special occasions, so you'll get a truly bespoke service 4. You'll know exactly what you are getting. We put as much information as we can on the travel sites, but we are restricted by their policies. When you book direct, we send you everything you need from how to reach us easily to our recommended places to eat 5. On departure you'll receive a discount code, saving you even more on future stays booked direct with us. We hope you'll agree that those are five great reasons to book direct with Staying Coolhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/five-reasons-to-book-direct-with-staying-cool/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/five-reasons-to-book-direct-with-staying-cool/Sat, 11 February 2017 14:44:38 Corporate Stays in Birmingham - you probably won't find betterhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/corporate-stays-in-birmingham-you-probably-wont-find-better/Staying Cool was developed by two people who frequently travelled for business (and pleasure!) and we've been providing high-quality corporate accommodation in Birmingham for the past nine years. If you are planning a corporate trip for yourself or in charge of booking them for a company then take a look at our business page s . Our apartments offer 100% free super fast fibre Wi-Fi and lounge areas with space to work and relax. Contact our Guest Relations team for details on special rates for corporate stays.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/corporate-stays-in-birmingham-you-probably-wont-find-better/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/corporate-stays-in-birmingham-you-probably-wont-find-better/Sat, 04 February 2017 21:11:26 How to get a Great Valentine's deal in Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/how-to-get-a-great-valentines-deal-in-birmingham/Valentine's Day falls on a Tuesday in 2017. We're fully booked for Tuesday 14th February, but we still have some availability on the weekends either side of the big day. Why not book one of our Birmingham Romantic Breaks and impress your Valentine with your good taste? Alternatively, if you already have too much on in February, then you could also present them with Staying Cool vouchers on Valentine's Day and come to stay when it suits the two of you.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/how-to-get-a-great-valentines-deal-in-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/how-to-get-a-great-valentines-deal-in-birmingham/Fri, 03 February 2017 14:44:09 Win a stay in a 4* serviced apartmenthttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/win-a-stay-in-a-4star-serviced-apartment/We're running a competition on our Staying Cool Facebook page this weekend. The prize is a night in one of our 4* Mini studio apartments - the perfect place to enjoy a night in Birmingham. The competition closes at 6pm on Sunday, February 5th, so make sure that you check us out on Facebook before then.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/win-a-stay-in-a-4star-serviced-apartment/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/win-a-stay-in-a-4star-serviced-apartment/Fri, 03 February 2017 13:06:00 This Week's Little Extras at Staying Coolhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/this-weeks-little-extras-at-staying-cool/We love coming up with ways to put smiles on the faces of our guests. This week, we celebrated Burn's Night on the 25th Feb and popped delicious Scottish shortbread in our apartments apartments and some Irn-Bru (the most popular soft drink in Scotland) for our guests to enjoy. Today it is Chinese New Year, so our team are giving away fortune cookies to guests.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/this-weeks-little-extras-at-staying-cool/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/this-weeks-little-extras-at-staying-cool/Sun, 29 January 2017 12:58:34 Verity Milligan Solo Exhibitionhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/verity-milligan-solo-exhibition/At Staying Cool we're huge fans of photographer Verity Milligan , so we were excited to hear that she has opened her first solo exhibition. Verity has taken many shots from our penthouse apartments (you can see two on this page) and the exhibition presents her favourite images of the city. The images can be seen in the Smith and Pepper Tea Room at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter for the next six months.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/verity-milligan-solo-exhibition/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/verity-milligan-solo-exhibition/Fri, 27 January 2017 13:33:30 Birmingham's Edwardian Tea Roomshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birminghams-edwardian-tea-rooms/Longing for tea and cake in elegant surroundings? The Edwardian Tea Rooms is a renovated architectural wonder at BMAG (Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery). BMAG is just a couple of minutes away from our apartments at Rotunda and you'll also find delights such as Full English Breakfasts, patisserie and Afternoons Tea on the menu. We're dreaming of scones with Devonshire clotted cream and jam!https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birminghams-edwardian-tea-rooms/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birminghams-edwardian-tea-rooms/Tue, 24 January 2017 14:44:44 Number One on TripAdvisor for 2016 https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/number-one-on-tripadvisor-for-2016/We're delighted to say that our serviced apartments in Birmingham were number one for hotels in Birmingham for the whole of 2016 on TripAdvisor (and continue to be so). We now have 860 reviews in total on TripAdvisor and it's wonderful that happy guests have helped us to achieve this against stiff competition. We work really hard to keep the apartments looking great and to back that up with equally good customer service, so it's wonderful to have that rewarded by our customers. We 'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who has left us a review.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/number-one-on-tripadvisor-for-2016/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/number-one-on-tripadvisor-for-2016/Wed, 18 January 2017 13:19:25 What's On In Birmingham in 2017https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/whats-on-in-birmingham-in-2017/Birmingham – the UK’s second city - is a cool and buzzing place offering lots of unique festivals and experiences that you won’t find anywhere else. We've put together some of the major events coming up in Birmingham over 2017. There's something for everyone from cutting-edge culture to sport and family entertainment. Why not build a short break around one of the many festivals or events in the city this year? FEBRUARY Valentine’s Day 14 th Feb Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year, which gives you two weekends to choose from if you can’t get away on a weekday. Birmingham has lots of excellent restaurants (we adore The Wilderness ). Check out Dine Birmingham for more ideas. Cinderella 15th-25th Feb An exquisite ballet production at the Birmingham Hippodrome from Birmingham Royal Ballet. If you buy tickets for Friday 17 th you can enjoy a free pre-performance talk at 6.30pm and learn more about the show from the people behind the scenes and on the stage. If you are seeing the matinee on Saturday 18 th , you can go to a free audience open day and peek behind the scenes. Verve Poetry and Spoken Word Festival 16 th -19 th Feb We’re excited about this new four-day festival, which is taking place at Waterstone’s right across from us at Rotunda. Why not do something different and book in for a free Poetry Breakfast on Saturday 18 th ? MARCH Whisky Birmingham 4th March The 5 th year of this unique whisky festival. Enjoy major brands, independents, whisky experts, masterclasses, collaborations with local bars, music and delicious street food. Crufts 9th-12 th March Who could resist the world’s largest dog show? It takes place at the NEC, which you can whizz to by train from New Street Station in under ten minutes. Stay central, so you can enjoy Crufts and all that Birmingham has to offer. NB: You have to leave your dog back at home for Crufts (unless you have an assistance dog or he/she has been invited). APRIL Flatpack Film Fest 4th-9 th April Flatpack is a truly unique festival focusing on cinema and audio-visual. It’s cool and innovative. Check out the Flatpack website for the full programme, which will be released at the end of Feb. Billy Elliott 7 th March – 29th April Billy Elliott is simply one of the best musicals around. Have all the excitement of a West End musical without the jaw-dropping West End prices at the Birmingham Hippodrome. MAY Birmingham Pride 27th-28 th May One of the biggest LGBT celebrations in the UK. Everyone is welcome and last year over 75,000 people watched the parade. The line up for 2017 is yet to be announced but 2016’s Pride included performances by Erasure’s Andy Bell, Lisa Stansfield and Fleur East. Grease 29 th May-3 rd June Teenagers in tow? Grease at the Birmingham Hippodrome could maKe a great half-term treat. The show stars Tom Parker from The Wanted as Danny and Over The Rainbow winner Danielle Hope as Sandy. JUNE This June is huge on cricket at Edgbaston Book for the 2nd - New Zealand v Australia, 4th - India v Pakistan7th - Pakistan v South Africa, 10th - England v Australia, 15th- semi-final. Supersonic Festival 16 th -18 th Supersonic is an internationally-renowned festival that celebrates adventurous music. There’s nothing else quite like it. Colmore Food Festival 30th June-1 st July Over 30,000 visitors attend this well-established festival featuring food from local restaurants and entertainment. JULY &amp; AUGUST The Big Sleuth July–Sept In need of amusement over the school holidays? The Big Sleuth will provide endless amusement in Birmingham this summer. It's a planned trail of 100 decorated bear sculptures. Each bear’s design is unique and seeking them out makes for great family fun. The Big Sleuth is in aid of Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Why not book one of our two-bedroom apartments and spend a couple of days doing some serious sleuthing? BE Fest 4th-8 th July Dare to be different. Be Fest is fabulously unconventional. Enjoy an innovative programme of theatre, dance, comedy, circus, music, visual and performing arts Mostly Jazz Funk &amp; Soul Festival 7th-9 th July You can’t really go wrong with a summer weekend of jazz, funk and soul. In 2016, the Independent said, “It’s all good and that’s the truth – 5*”. The lineup for 2017 is yet to be revealed but 2016’s roll call included De La Soul, Booker T Jones, DJ Craig Charles and Grandmaster Flash. July will also bring the city the annual Shock and Gore film festival at The Electric Cinema, the Brindleyplace Film Festival (outdoor films) and the Birmingham Caribbean Festival, but dates are yet to be confirmed for these events. Floodlit Test Match 17th-21th August Cricket fan? The first ever day-night test to be played in England will take place at Edgbaston this August (England vs the West Indies). SEPTEMBER Moseley Folk Festival 1 st -3 rd September Moseley is just two miles from the centre of Newcastle. This festival hasn’t announced its line up for 2017, but the likes of Johnny Marr, Edwyn Collins, The Proclaimers and Billy Bragg have performed there in recent years, so it’s well worth signing up for the mailing list. T20 Cricket September 2nd September There’s another huge cricket event this September in Birmingham with the Natwest T20 Blast Finals Day at Edgbaston. The Birmingham Weekender 22nd-24th September 2017’s Birmingham Weekender will be one of the most exciting weekends of the year. Details for September are yet to be confirmed, but the first Birmingham Weekender (2015) was wonderful, so we this is definitely one for the diary. 2015’s highlights included Birmingham Royal Ballet performing in the Bullring shopping centre and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra playing sublime music in The Mailbox. A nighttime spectacular called ‘Maudits Sonnants’ took place in the skies above Centenary Square and we’ll never forget the Mexican Day of the Dead party featuring an enormous puppet of Lady Godiva. Velo Birmingham 24th September Velo is a celebration of cycling with 15,000 riders taking place in a 100-mile race which starts in the heart of Birmingham and ends back here after passing through beautiful countryside. OCTOBER Birmingham Comedy Festival 6th-15 th October What a way cheer up the lull before Christmas! The line-up for 2017 is yet to be announced but in previous years the likes of Michael McIntrye, Ross Noble, John Bishop, Alan Carr, Al Murray The Pub Landlord, Sarah Millican, Russell Brand, Jack Whitehall, Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Harry Hill have appeared at the festival. Birmingham International Marathon 15th October The first ever Birmingham Marathon is going to be a really a really exciting event. The Birmingham Great Run half marathon will take place on the same Sunday if you aren’t feeling quite up to the full 26.2 miles! http://www.greatrun.org/great-birmingham-run Hairspray 9 th -14 th October Few musicals are as feel good as Hairspray. Fall in love with Tracy Turnblad - “a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart” at Birmingham’s magnificent Birmingham Hippodrome. Watch the trailer here Dates are not confirmed at time of publication, but Fierce Festival, the Literature Festival, OXJAM and the Black International Film Festival have also been scheduled to take place in Birmingham this October. NOVEMBER &amp; DECEMBER We’re still a long way off from winter 2017 but we’re looking forward to welcoming back Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market &amp; Craft Fair to the streets outside Rotunda. The opening date is not yet confirmed. Cinderella November 19th The Hippodrome’s annual panto opens on November 19 th and runs all the way through to January 28 th . The Nutcracker November 24th-13th December Birmingham Royal Ballet is back with its production of The Nutcracker, a wonderful Birmingham tradition. What will you be putting in your diary from the events above? Make the most of our vibrant, cultural city by booking a stay . Our serviced apartments Birmingham offer the city’s only 5* accommodation (our Mini studios are 4*). Choose from two-bedroom penthouses or Maxis , one bedroom Clubmans or studio apartments at the very centre of Birmingham. Find out why we were number one on TripAdvisor for Birmingham for the whole of 2016.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/whats-on-in-birmingham-in-2017/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/whats-on-in-birmingham-in-2017/Sun, 15 January 2017 21:52:50 Still Panto Time In Brumhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/still-panto-time-in-brum/If you haven't seen a panto this season then don't despair: Dick Whittington runs at Birmingham's magnificent Hippodrome theatre right up until January 29th. It stars John Barrowman, Eastender Steve McFadden, Matt Slack, The Krankies and Jodie Prenger. No time to go before the end of the run? You can already book tickets for the Hippodrome's 2017/18 panto! Cinderella will run from December 19th, 2017 to January 28th, 2018.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/still-panto-time-in-brum/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/still-panto-time-in-brum/Thu, 12 January 2017 20:07:21 Evening at Selfridges to support the Help Harry Help Othershttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/evening-at-selfridges-to-support-the-help-harry-help-others/A very special event will take place at Selfridges in Birmingham on March 2nd. Keeping It Real 2 has been organised by the Gastro Card to raise funds for the cancer support charity Help Harry Help Others . The evening will run from 5.30 -8pm and will take place at Searcy's The Balcony within the Selfridges store in Birmingham. The team promise "fine food, fizz, fashion and fun". A raffle will be held and prizes include a night for two people in one of our 5* Clubman apartments . Tickets Cost £22.50 which includes a glass of Prosecco on arrival and canapés.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/evening-at-selfridges-to-support-the-help-harry-help-others/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/evening-at-selfridges-to-support-the-help-harry-help-others/Wed, 11 January 2017 20:01:11 Enjoy a Special Offer on our Mini Apartments this Januaryhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/january-mini-offer/Cheer up January in style! We have a limited number of our 4* Mini serviced apartments available in Birmingham for just £99 (per apartment per night) until Jan 31st, 2017. Laugh in the face of a mere hotel room and stay in a Mini studio apartment with spaces to relax, eat, cook and sleep. No booking code is required - simply type in your dates to see if the deal is available. Read all about our funky Minishttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/january-mini-offer/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/january-mini-offer/Thu, 05 January 2017 09:37:11 Why we all need to support Birmingham's Brilliant Museumshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/support-birminghams-museums/Birmingham Museums Trust (BMT) is facing cuts of half a million pounds a year starting this April. An online petition has been set up to ask that the cuts be reduced. Please sign and share the petition to give your support to the great work BMT does in running attractions such as BMAG, ThinkTank science museum, Aston Hall and the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter. BMT is a registered charity that cares for the city’s wonderful museum collection, attracting over 1.2 million visits a year. The proposed cuts to BMT's funding could result in: A substantial reduction in public access to some of Birmingham's museums, which include Birmingham Museum &amp; Art Gallery , Thinktank Birmin gham Science Museum, Aston Hall, Blakesley Hall, Museum of the Jewellery Quarter , Sarehole Mill, Soho House and Weoley Castle. Fewer learning activities for students, local schools and community groups Significantly reduced public access to Birmingham’s collection for both research and public enjoyment, either in the city or through outward loans Reduced capacity to deliver projects alone or in partnership The deadline for responses is January 18th, so please complete the petition before then.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/support-birminghams-museums/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/support-birminghams-museums/Tue, 03 January 2017 12:33:32 A look back at Staying Cool's 2016 Highlightshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/a-look-back-at-staying-cools-2016-highlights/To finish 2016 on a high, we thought it would be nice to look back at the things that made us smile at Staying Cool this year. We’re already planning great things for 2017. Cool Things We Did For Our Lovely Guests We like to treat guests with little extras and 2016 was a bumper year. Our Guest Relations team organised complimentary Pimms for the Wimbledon Finals (Go, Andy!), handmade chocs for Easter and Valentine’s Day from Chouchoute in Birmingham , gave away top-quality English wine every day during English Tourism Week, homemade Toffee apples for Halloween and bought Euromillions tickets for every apartment when the pot was particularly large. Christmas meant mince pies for all and our first ever donkey adoption Earlier in the year, we also held a cello recital in one of our penthouses to support Orchestra Of The Swan (it was wonderful) and Seven Songs held a Fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Society. 2016 Highlights We now have 35 serviced apartments in Birmingham and we were number one for hotels in Birmingham on TripAdvisor all year. We also retained our official 5* status for our Roadster penthouses , Maxi apartments and Clubman apartments – the only 5* accommodation in Birmingham! Our funky Mini apartments are 4*. This year, media highlights include being recommended by The New York Times (twice!), The Independent , Heat Magazine and FLYBE Magazine. We also got the first official Australian recommendation we know about on Traveller.com. Google filmed an interactive tour of one of our Birmingham penthouse apartments and that sits proudly on our website homepage . Events We Loved In Birmingham Birmingham is so rich with culture that it’s hard to pick our highlights. However, The Wilderness restaurant opening was a biggie for us and we are very thrilled to see how well the Nomads are doing. City of Colours - a graffiti and street art festival – was superb. We always love the way the IDFB (International Dance Festival Birmingham) takes us to new places whilst Flatpack Film Festival and BE Festival are super cool and inspirational. The Birmingham Instagramers exhibition was a fantastic opportunity to see the work of many of Birmingham's superb photographers. The year ended with the Magical Lantern Festival coming to Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens and making us feel super Christmassy and happy. Thank you to everyone who has stayed with us during 2016. Happy New Year from all us at Staying Cool!https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/a-look-back-at-staying-cools-2016-highlights/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/a-look-back-at-staying-cools-2016-highlights/Sat, 31 December 2016 16:42:40 Farewell to the Frankfurt Christmas Markethttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/farewell-to-the-frankfurt-christmas-market/Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market has closed for another year. It ran for an extra week this year as the two cities were celebrating 50 years of their special relationship. Our serviced apartments are found right on the edge of the market, but high up so you can enjoy all the fun without being bothered by noise. Visiting the market is a great Christmas treat. Why not book in with us for 2017 and make the most of this fun Birmingham event?https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/farewell-to-the-frankfurt-christmas-market/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/farewell-to-the-frankfurt-christmas-market/Thu, 29 December 2016 10:07:27 Mini Apartment Review by La Dolce Rose https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/mini-apartment-review-by-la-dolce-rose/We enjoyed a recent review of a stay in one of our Mini apartments by blogger La Dolce Rose. Ali, who is behind the blog, brought her husband along to Staying Cool in Birmingham for his 30th birthday. Ali said," The Staying Cool Mini apartments are small but after all, good things do come in small packages! The rooms are practical, functional, yet still stylish. ..The clever use of space leaves the room feeling more spacious than it really is. Meanwhile the floor to ceiling windows offer a mesmerising view over Birmingham city centre. " There are some great shots included of the Mini in La Dolce Rose blog and it's a good write up on location and what we offer to guests, so please give it a readhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/mini-apartment-review-by-la-dolce-rose/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/mini-apartment-review-by-la-dolce-rose/Wed, 21 December 2016 11:39:10 Tasty Macaroons Arrive at Great Western Arcade Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/miss-macaroon-now-open-at-gwa/Miss Macaroon opened a few weeks ago in the Victorian splendour of Birmingham's Great Western Arcade. The company produces delicious macaroons, which are beautifully boxed and make perfect gifts. You can also enjoy a glass of bubbly at the Miss Macaroon prosecco bar while you're shopping. What makes it all even better is that Miss Macaroon is a social enterprise company that provides employment and training programmes for young people in Birmingham. We salute them! You'll find Miss Macaroon at 8 Great Western Arcade, Birmingham and you can also shop online .https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/miss-macaroon-now-open-at-gwa/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/miss-macaroon-now-open-at-gwa/Mon, 19 December 2016 12:48:11 Career Traveller Christmas in Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/career-traveller-christmas-in-birmingham/Career Traveller has a well-established blog tracing the travels of her family throughout the UK and beyond, so we jumped at the chance to have them stay in one of our penthouse apartments in the lead up to Christmas. Read about the family's very enjoyable stay in Birmingham, including visits to the Birmingham Frankfurt Market, the Lantern Festival and ThinkTank Science Museum.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/career-traveller-christmas-in-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/career-traveller-christmas-in-birmingham/Thu, 15 December 2016 11:04:38 Staying Cool Scoops Third Award in a Weekhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/press-release-staying-cool-scoops-third-award-in-a-week/PRESS RELEASE Christmas has come early at Staying Cool as it has won three awards in under seven days. The Birmingham serviced apartment company won the hard-fought Team of the Year Award at the ASAP Awards and was the runner up for the ASAP’s Investment in People Award. Staying Cool then received news that it had achieved Silver in the Green Tourism programme. Staying Cool is one of only 15 serviced apartments companies in the UK who take part in the scheme and the only self-catering accommodation in Birmingham with a Green Tourism award . The company is now putting a plan in place with the aim of achieving a Gold Green Tourism award in 2017. Staying Cool's MD, Tracey Stephenson, said: “All three awards reflect the core values that we started the business with a decade ago: a customer centric approach and an emphasis on ethical and sustainable trading. The hard work put in by our team into continuous improvement in these two areas has resulted in us winning these three prestigious awards. We’re extremely proud of that.” The ASAP’s Team of the Year Award goes to the company that demonstrates how the development or implementation of its teams across the organisation has helped to meet objectives and importantly achieve a successful business environment and thriving internal culture. Stuart Park, Lead Assessor at Green Tourism, said: “Staying Cool made a great entry into the Green Tourism programme. A huge amount of effort has been made to reduce the impact from this site and it gives the guests a real green experience. Modern appliances, low energy lighting and good insulation are all in place in the unique listed building. Green products are left for guests such as fair trade teas and coffees, organic cereal, eco-friendly cleaning products as well as natural soaps. Waste minimization works well with recycling options available for most of the main waste streams. Staying Cool also has played an important part in the community - raising funds or donating prizes for local and national charities.” Staying Cool offers 35 serviced apartments at the Grade-II listed Rotunda building in Birmingham, including the city’s only 5* places to stay. The company aims to combine chic, design-led interiors with attention to detail and outstanding customer service. Guests can choose from penthouses with large wraparound balconies, two-bedroom Maxi apartments, Clubman one bedrooms and Mini studios.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/press-release-staying-cool-scoops-third-award-in-a-week/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/press-release-staying-cool-scoops-third-award-in-a-week/Wed, 14 December 2016 13:27:38 Christmas is Bigger in Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/christmas-is-bigger-in-birmingham/If you're planning a trip to Birmingham over the festive season then we'd recommend a visit to the visit Birmingham website . As part of the 'Christmas Is Bigger in Birmingham' campaign they've put together lots of information, which will help you to make the most of your time here. Our Guest Relations team are also full of Christmas spirit (and local knowledge) and always happy to advise you before or during your stay with us.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/christmas-is-bigger-in-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/christmas-is-bigger-in-birmingham/Thu, 08 December 2016 10:20:41 Green Award for Staying Coolhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/green-award-for-staying-cool/From the very start, Staying Cool has had a focus on the environment as we think that's a really important part of doing business well. We're proud to say that we've now been awarded a Silver Green Tourism Award to reflect what we do at our serviced apartments in Birmingham. Green Tourism is the world’s largest sustainable certification programme of its kind and gaining accreditation is a rigorous process. Read about some of the 'green' things we dohttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/green-award-for-staying-cool/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/green-award-for-staying-cool/Wed, 07 December 2016 09:54:39 Staying Cool Wins Team of the Yearhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cool-wins-team-of-the-year/Staying Cool at the Rotunda won two gongs at the ASAP Awards (Association of Serviced Apartment Providers) in London on November 30th. We won the Team of the Year category plus runner up in the Investment in People award. The awards were held at at the Museum of London. The Serviced Apartment Team of the the Year Award award rewarded Staying Cool’s thriving internal culture and successful business environment. The Serviced Apartment Investment in People awards go to companies with a customer-centric culture where the customer really is king. Our MD, Tracey Stephenson, said: “We are delighted about the wins as they are a reflection of our team efforts day in and day out at Rotunda. Everyone at Staying Cool gets involved in continuously trying to improve the service we provide to guests at our serviced apartments . We never allow the focus to slip and I am so proud that has been recognised.” The ASAP is a not-for-profit trade body, offering membership and accreditation to owners, operators and agents of serviced apartments. It has 175 members collectively operating over 100,000 apartments in 13 countries and offering three million bed nights per year. The ASAP awards are open to serviced apartment companies across the globe. Tracey Stephenson said: “We’d like to pass on our congratulations to all of our fellow winners in the ASAP awards, especially Silver Door , runners up to us in the Team of the Year award, and CheckIn London who pipped us to the post for the Investment in People Award. We’re proud to be in such good company.”https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cool-wins-team-of-the-year/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cool-wins-team-of-the-year/Thu, 01 December 2016 15:44:18 The Best Places to get a Cocktail in Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-best-places-to-get-a-cocktail-in-birmingham/Are cocktails your idea of heaven? Here at Staying Cool, we’ve put dedicated research into the best places to get a cocktail in Birmingham. This selection of sophisticated cocktail bars offer everything from classic cocktails - such as martinis and pina coladas - to cutting-edge cocktails that you'll never have tried before. Read on for our top 6 picks plus recommendations from our team on what you should try! Ginger’s at Purnell's Bistro, 11 Newhall Street, Birmingham The recommendation of Tracey, our MD. She’s all about the Pisco Sours (Pisco ABA, sugar, lime , Chuncho Amargo , egg white). Alex from our team is also a Ginger’s fan, but he opts for The Brumble cocktail (gin, lemon, sugar, blackberries, cassis). Harvey Nichols The Mailbox, Wharfside Street, Birmingham The bar at Harvey Nichs is a cool, sophisticated place to enjoy a drink. It’s hard to resist champagne in this environment, but do try a Parisienne (Finlandia vodka, homemade apple and dill cordial, lemon juice, apple juice, egg white and elderflower tonic). The Alchemist The Grand, Colmore Row, Birmingham A new cocktail bar for Birmingham and recommended by Cory from our team. The Alchemist offers an extensive cocktails list using “lots of dry ice and interesting ingredients”. Try a LightBulb Moment – Tanqueray Gin, Pimms, ginger beer, raspberry, lemon and mint. The Botanist 14-16 Temple Street, Birmingham Janie likes The Botanist but claims that a lot of their drinks are “almost too pretty to drink”. As the name suggest, The Botanist is big on botanical cocktails. The English Mojito is a long cocktail for gin lovers (Tanqueray gin, cucumber and mint, fresh lime juice, sugar syrup, green apple liqueur and apple juice. Bar Opus One Snowhill, Birmingham Rum cocktails are divine and Bar Opus serves up a mighty fine Hemmingway Daiquiri (Havana 7 rum, Luxardo liqueur, grapefruit). If someone in your party isn’t a fan of alcoholic drinks then mocktails are also available. Asha’s 12-22 Newhall Street Birmingham Danny recommends Asha’s - also an excellent Asian restaurant - for “a quick cheeky cocktail”. He loves their Passion Collins (crushed ice, vodka and fresh passionfruit). Want to make the most of the best places to get a cocktail in Birmingham? Rent a chic serviced apartment from us (no minimum stay) and enjoy a sophisticated time in Birmingham. Choose from a two-bed penthouse or Maxi , a one-bed Clubman or a Mini studio . Rates start at £99 per apartment per night.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-best-places-to-get-a-cocktail-in-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-best-places-to-get-a-cocktail-in-birmingham/Mon, 28 November 2016 15:03:32 The Birmingham Frankfurt Market in The Sunday Timeshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-birmingham-frankfurt-market-in-the-sunday-times/The Sunday Times has given Birmingham's Christmas market its seal of approval. The market was named in the UK's top five yesterday. The Times said, "The largest German Christmas market outside Germany and Austria has all the pretzels, schnitzels and bratwursts you can eat. Maybe visit the craft market before you've had one too many weissbier." Sound advice. The market starts just outside our door, so our serviced apartments are a great place to make the most of the Birmingham Frankfurt Market (as it's officially known!).https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-birmingham-frankfurt-market-in-the-sunday-times/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-birmingham-frankfurt-market-in-the-sunday-times/Sun, 27 November 2016 11:41:23 The Nutcracker at Birmingham Hippodromehttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-nutcracker-at-birmingham-hippodrome/Birmingham Royal Ballet has brought its wonderful staging of The Nutcracker back to the Hippodrome for 2016. The production runs until 13th December and has returned every year for 25 years. The Nutcracker has very much become part of Birmingham Christmas tradition and was described by The Birmingham Post as "…the ballet of all ballets, being both magical, marvellously well designed and presented by a company which is world class."https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-nutcracker-at-birmingham-hippodrome/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-nutcracker-at-birmingham-hippodrome/Thu, 24 November 2016 12:07:21 Alternative Birmingham in The Guardianhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/alternative-birmingham-in-the-guardian/Alternative Birmingham was featured in The Guardian's Travel Section recently. The piece by Tony Naylor focuses on the city's alternative scene and is recommended if you like to avoid the mainstream. Many of the 'must sees' featured in the Guardian article are very close to our serviced apartments in the centre of Birmingham, such as The Wilderness restaurant and The Electric cinema. Bonus! The article links to a Birmingham Spotify playlist by Lisa Meyer of Supersonic Festival.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/alternative-birmingham-in-the-guardian/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/alternative-birmingham-in-the-guardian/Wed, 23 November 2016 16:56:27 Seven great ideas to make your stay greenerhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/seven-great-ideas-to-make-your-stay-greener/We have a strong company ethos at Staying Cool and a part of that is care for the environment. We believe that is part and parcel of running an ethical business and we're always trying to improve further using suggestions from staff and guests alike. Here are 7 ways we make sure that the most stylish serviced apartments Birmingham has to offer are also environmentally sound: 7 Green Ideas At Staying Cool Our sofas are built using wood from a sustainable source by Naughtone , an environmentally-friendly company based in Harrogate. The sofas look and feel great too. We mix mid-century furniture from the fifties, sixties and seventies with specially commissioned pieces such as the sofas above. We salvage items and restore them to their former glory: our dining chairs are all refurbished sixties originals . We provide locally sourced organic (or free range) store cupboard ingredients that are also Fairtrade , such as hot choc and sugar. In their apartments, guests find environmentally-friendly cleaning products such as Ecover washing up liquid and dishwasher tablets plus ‘green’ loo rolls. Guests enjoy hand-blended aromatherapy toiletries products, which are free of SLS’s and parabens. The bottles are biodegradable and recyclable . Each serviced apartment gets its own freshly roasted pack of coffee ground in Birmingham , ensuring it is fresh and waste is kept to a minimum. We invested in a high-tech cleaning system (nicknamed ‘miracle water’) which uses electrolyzed water to clean and virtually wipes out the need for products to be used. Like the cut of our green jib? Come and stay in style at our serviced apartments in Birmingham .Choose from a two-bedroom penthouse or Maxi, a one-bedroom Clubman or a chic Mini studio apartment.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/seven-great-ideas-to-make-your-stay-greener/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/seven-great-ideas-to-make-your-stay-greener/Sat, 19 November 2016 18:13:39 Dates for Birmingham Christmas Markethttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/dates-for-birmingham-christmas-market/What are the dates for the Birmingham Christmas Market this year? The market opens on 17th November and closes on December 29th inclusive. It closes for Christmas Day. The market is open from 10am-9pm daily. This is the largest authentic Christmas Market outside Germany and Austria. The market starts just outside our doors at Rotunda. Our Birmingham serviced apartments are the perfect place to stay to make the most of this Christmas treat. Full details are available on the official websitehttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/dates-for-birmingham-christmas-market/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/dates-for-birmingham-christmas-market/Sat, 12 November 2016 09:36:45 Asian Bride Live event at the NEC in Januaryhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/blogasian-bride-live-event-at-the-nec-in-january/Asian Bride Live is coming to Birmingham's NEC from January 21st-22nd, 2017. With over 200 exhibitors and fashion shows, it should be a great day out. Make the most of a trip t Birmingham by staying in the centre of the city: the NEC can be reached in under 15 minutes by train from New Street Station (a two-minute walk from our serviced apartments). Our service apartments in Birmingham are also the perfect place to stay pre-or post-wedding if you love great design. Images taken at the Rotunda of Diana Khanom and Raqibul Hassan courtesy of Silver Halo photography.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/blogasian-bride-live-event-at-the-nec-in-january/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/blogasian-bride-live-event-at-the-nec-in-january/Wed, 09 November 2016 18:40:04 New Birmingham Photography Galleryhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/new-birmingham-photography-gallery/We're huge fans of photography here at Staying Cool. In fact, each of our serviced apartments features a unique shot from a photo shoot inspired by the Rotunda's 1960s heritage. We were excited to see that a new contemporary photography gallery has opened in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter. It's called Argentea and it features the work of British and international artists. Until November 26th you can see Tamas Deszo's 'Notes for an Epilogue' and Robin Gillander's 'A Lover's Complaint'.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/new-birmingham-photography-gallery/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/new-birmingham-photography-gallery/Mon, 07 November 2016 13:59:26 Why we think we've always been hygge at Staying Coolhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/why-we-think-weve-always-been-hygge-at-staying-cool/Hygge is a word that’s all over the media at the moment. This small (and challenging to pronounce) word has swept in from Denmark to remind us all to ‘live well and live simply’. We don’t talk much about our ethos at Staying Cool, but talking about the hygge craze made us think that perhaps we should do it a little more. These are things that struck us as hygge at Staying Cool: Our Birmingham apartments look good and feel good . Our co-founder Paul Taylor designs every one of them and seamlessly transforms every space into an oasis of calm. Let there be light. The design of our apartments with their huge windows means that they are filled with light . In our larger apartments, you can stay in bed, throw open the windows and watch birds wheeling through the sky. We like to make guests smile . We’re always coming up with little surprises for guests ranging from chocolate treats at Christmas to ice lollies popped in their freezers on blazing hot days. Relaxation is key to hygge. Our guests really can make themselves at home thanks to massive beds, board games, dining tables, books , kitchens, SKY TV and sofas. Things matter to us beyond the bottom line. For instance, we care about the environment, so we provide Ecover goodies for our guests and we invested in a method of cleaning nicknamed ‘magic water’ that wipes out the need to clean with chemicals. We feel that adds to the positive feel of our apartments . Our apartments look wonderful on any Instagram feed, but we believe that it’s our service that makes people come back time and time again. We give a warm welcome and we’ve built a team for whom nothing is too much . We are seriously into detail . Every single item in our serviced apartments - from the espresso machines to the oven gloves to the lighting – is chosen (after serious research) because it performs well and is a great design. As a result, our apartments look great and work well too. Come and escape for a while with us in Birmingham.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/why-we-think-weve-always-been-hygge-at-staying-cool/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/why-we-think-weve-always-been-hygge-at-staying-cool/Thu, 03 November 2016 17:20:54 FlyBe Magazine Recommends Staying Cool at the Rotundahttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/flybe-magazine-recommends-staying-cool-at-the-rotunda/We're delighted to be included in FkyBe's current FlightTime magazine. The Destinations section picks us out as the place to stay in Birmingham. We think that their recommendation of seeing The Nutcracker at Birmingham Hippodrome is great too! You can read the whole magazine online and find us on page 100.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/flybe-magazine-recommends-staying-cool-at-the-rotunda/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/flybe-magazine-recommends-staying-cool-at-the-rotunda/Wed, 02 November 2016 11:44:22 Day of the Dead with Craig Charleshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/day-of-the-dead-with-craig-charles/Digbeth's The Bond is being transformed into a Day of the Dead wonderland to celebrate Halloween. This weekend, DJs including Craig Charles and Joey Negro will play sets while the Bond's courtyard will be filled with the very best of Birmingham street food. Friday and Saturday tickets are priced at £15 with weekend tickets £25.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/day-of-the-dead-with-craig-charles/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/day-of-the-dead-with-craig-charles/Fri, 28 October 2016 12:23:33 Arts and Science Festival Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/arts-and-science-festival-2017/One for the diary! The University of Birmingham is running a week-long arts and science festival from 13th-19th March, 2017. The fourth year of the festival will take the theme of 'Land and Water'. This promises to be a fascinating week ranging from film screenings and classical music to 'accessible' science lectures. The programme for 2016 is still available online to give you a taste of what to expect.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/arts-and-science-festival-2017/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/arts-and-science-festival-2017/Tue, 25 October 2016 19:31:47 Cool Little Extras make a Staying Cool stay all the More Specialhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/cool-little-extras-make-a-staying-cool-stay-all-the-more-special/If you follow us on social media, you'll see that over the next couple of weeks we are talking about the cool little extras we provide for our guests. These range from extras that make you feel at home on arrival (hand-ground coffee, fresh milk, SKY TV, board games, toiletries etc) to seasonal treats such as Easter chocs. If you'd like to tag something that makes you smile while you are staying with us please use the hashtag # littleextras. Find us on Twitter and Facebookhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/cool-little-extras-make-a-staying-cool-stay-all-the-more-special/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/cool-little-extras-make-a-staying-cool-stay-all-the-more-special/Mon, 24 October 2016 11:34:02 Independent Birmingham: The Sarah Preisler Galleryhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/independent-birmingham-the-sarah-preisler-gallery/Into contemporary jewellery? Birmingham's Sara Preisler Gallery is an excellent place to indulge your passion (or buy for a friend or lover). The gallery is home to Sara's own handcrafted jewellery - made on the premises - but you can also see the work of several other UK jewellery designers. New exhibitions are launched bi-monthly. You'll find the Sara Preisler Gallery at Birmingham's Custard Factory , down the hill from our Rotunda apartments in Digbeth. The Custard Factory is a hub for all things cool and creative. Well worth a visit.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/independent-birmingham-the-sarah-preisler-gallery/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/independent-birmingham-the-sarah-preisler-gallery/Wed, 19 October 2016 16:07:20 Chocival is Coming! A dream for the chocaholics among ushttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/chocival-is-coming-a-dream-for-the-chocaholics-among-us/Chocival, Birmingham's fist ever chocolate festival, is taking place this Saturday (October 22nd). Chocival will feature music, entertainment and food stalls. Entry is free and you can enjoy temptations such as chocolate cookies, cakes, brownies and local handmade chocolates. You can also indulge yourself with chocolate inspired beers plus cocoa-flavoured vodka and gin. See more detail and a full list of stallholders onlinehttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/chocival-is-coming-a-dream-for-the-chocaholics-among-us/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/chocival-is-coming-a-dream-for-the-chocaholics-among-us/Tue, 18 October 2016 17:40:06 Birmingham's Art Bus is on the move. All Aboard! https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birminghams-art-bus-is-on-the-move-all-aboard/On October 30th, you can enjoy late-night openings at six of Birmingham's most popular art galleries. A great evening will be made even better with free transport between the galleries taking part - the Art Bus will transport you between BMAG ( Birmingham Museum &amp; Art Gallery), The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Ikon Gallery, RBSA Gallery, Parkside Gallery and mac Birmingham. At BMAG, save 50% on entry to the stunning exhibition ' Enchanted Dreams: The Pre-Raphaelite Art of E.R. Hughes' and enjoy complimentary refreshments. There are full details and a flyer showing the Art Bus timetable on the Birmingham Museums websitehttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birminghams-art-bus-is-on-the-move-all-aboard/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birminghams-art-bus-is-on-the-move-all-aboard/Mon, 17 October 2016 16:15:39 Join Bar Opus' Wine Club on Tuesday evenings in Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/join-bar-opus-wine-club-on-tuesday-evenings-in-birmingham/If you are a wine lover, then the monthly Wine Club at Birmingham's Bar Opus could be for you. Hosted by Opus's wine supplier, Bibendum, you'll have the opportunity to learn about five wines over a one hour session. The next session is on Tuesday November 8th at 6pm. Each class is £10pp. Please call 0121 289 3939 to book (spaces are limited) .https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/join-bar-opus-wine-club-on-tuesday-evenings-in-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/join-bar-opus-wine-club-on-tuesday-evenings-in-birmingham/Fri, 14 October 2016 17:09:43 Selfridges - our corner shop - is opening a Beauty Stagehttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/selfridges-our-corner-shop-is-opening-a-beauty-stage/We're lucky to be located very close to the 'space-age' Selfridges store in Birmingham. The beauty hall is sheer heaven! This October, the Selfridges Beauty Stage presents a week of beauty masterclasses from global brands such as Chanel, YSL, Charlotte Tilbury and Bobbi Brown. To attend the following beauty masterclasses, please call 0121 600 6718 or speak to a Selfridges Beauty Team Member. Tickets are £10 and are fully redeemable against any purchase made on the day. Thursday 20th – Chanel Masterclasses with international MUA Georgina Pratt Friday 21st – YSL Masterclasses with national MUA Ffion Caddick Saturday 22nd – Charlotte Tilbury Masterclasses with international MUA Nelson Catarino and Charlotte’s Backstage Team Sunday 23rd – Bobbi Brown Masterclasses with national MUA Lampros Faslis Monday 24th – The Estee Edit Masterclasseses with national MUA Melissa Gibbons and a special Halloween demonstration with personal shopper Rose Gallagher Tuesday 25th – Rose Gallagher Halloween theatrical make-up demos with Selfridges Personal Shopper Rose Gallagher Wednesday 26th – Urban Decay Masterclasses with national MUA Danielle Roberts Thursday 27th - Illamasqua Masterclass with national MUA Chloe Habachihttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/selfridges-our-corner-shop-is-opening-a-beauty-stage/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/selfridges-our-corner-shop-is-opening-a-beauty-stage/Thu, 13 October 2016 18:17:40 Tuesday Classical Concerts https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/tuesday-classical-concerts/If you're able to take time out on a Tuesday afternoon then Orchestra of the Swan (whom we proudly support) have a treat in store for you next month at the Town Hall Birmingham. On November 9th at 2.30pm they'll perform 'Bach to the Future'. This world premiere by American composer Douglas Cuomo, best known for the title theme to ‘Sex and the City’, marks OOT's 21 st Anniversary season. 'Back to the Future' was composed as a companion piece to Bach’s Brandenburg concerto no2. Tickets range from £9.70-£27.50https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/tuesday-classical-concerts/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/tuesday-classical-concerts/Wed, 12 October 2016 14:53:00 Don't miss the Curry King of Birmingham organised by LoveBrumhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/dont-miss-the-curry-king-of-birmingham-organised-by-lovebrum/Birmingham is rightly renowned for the standard of its Asian cuisine. This Friday sees a black tie event with a difference in the city. The inaugural Curry King of Birmingham - a truly unique event - takes place at the ICC and it's all in aid of the charity Lovebrum. Enjoy a drinks reception, dinner and an after party event at Mechu Could you be the Curry King? Each guest on your table will be given tasks to do that will contribute to cooking a delicious curry. Together you will be asked to create a recipe from a number of meats, vegetables, herbs and spices. You'll need to name your dish too. Individual tickets cost £85https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/dont-miss-the-curry-king-of-birmingham-organised-by-lovebrum/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/dont-miss-the-curry-king-of-birmingham-organised-by-lovebrum/Tue, 11 October 2016 15:09:09 October Film Festivals Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/october-film-festivals-birmingham/Birmingham is a great place to see a film any time of the year, but this October takes things to a whole new level with two unique film festivals. Take your pick from Behind the Curtain and the Birmingham Black International Film Festival. Behind The Curtain 16th-31st October Films and new media from Central and Eastern Europe. Black International Film Festival 26th-31st October In its ninth year and the only event of its kind in the UK.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/october-film-festivals-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/october-film-festivals-birmingham/Mon, 10 October 2016 15:54:13 Paul Smith Opens at The Mailboxhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/paul-smith-opens-at-the-mailbox/Designer shopping in Birmingham just got even better! Paul Smith has opened a new store at The Mailbox in Birmingham. The elegant unit is stocking collections for men and women alongside a curated selection of "shoes, accessories, artwork and curiosities". We are long-time fans of Paul Smith and used his fabric in some of our Manchester apartments. We're delighted to welcome his team to Birmingham!https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/paul-smith-opens-at-the-mailbox/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/paul-smith-opens-at-the-mailbox/Fri, 07 October 2016 14:50:00 Why we think you should visit Grand Designs Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/why-we-think-you-should-visit-grand-designs-birmingham/Grand Designs Live is back in Birmingham at the NEC from 19th-23rd October, 2016. Speakers in the Grand Theatre include Kevin McCloud and Charlie Luxton. Check out Ask An Expert, Kevin's Green Heroes, a live Kitchen Experience, Grand Room Sets and the Light Lab. VIP tickets give you treats such as fast-track entry and fizz on arrival. Standard tickets cost only £12. Book online herehttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/why-we-think-you-should-visit-grand-designs-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/why-we-think-you-should-visit-grand-designs-birmingham/Wed, 05 October 2016 18:28:01 What's On in Birmingham this Octoberhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/whats-on-in-birmingham-this-october/The UK’s second city is really buzzing this month! Here’s our pick of what’s on in Birmingham this October from Frankenstein to ancient Egypt: Birmingham Literature Festival 6 th -16 th October Dive in to the city’s literature festival with over 80 events. We’re booking Walter Presents, Henry Normal, Miranda Sawyer and Raw Concrete (book the latter and you could win a stay with us!) Fierce Festival 7 th -11 th October Take a walk on the cultural wild side with Fierce. Fierce is a totally unique, always thought provoking festival featuring (amongst other things) theatre, dance, music, installations and and parties. Birmingham Comedy Festival 7 th -16 th October Fun! Fun! Fun! The likes of Romesh Ranganathan, The Boy With Tape On His Face and Jason Byrne will be appearing at this well-established comedy fest. Universal Monsters 13 th -31 st October We rate the programming at The Electric cinema very highly. This indie gem is bringing a Universal Monsters season to Birmingham. Don’t miss creepy classics like Frankenstein, The Mummy and The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Grand Designs 19 th -23 rd October We need to talk about Kevin - we never get tired of Mr McCloud and his passion for great design. He and the Grand Design team are back at the Birmingham NEC at the end of October. Check out our NEC VIP offer . The Exorcist 21 st Oct – 5 th Nov If The Electric’s Universal Monster season hasn’t thrilled you enough then this 18+ production at Birmingham Rep might do the job. Egyptology Conference 28 th -30 th October Fascinated by ancient Egypt? BMAG is hosting this new Egyptology conference. It is open to the public and features expert speakers. A very cool, very unusual way to fill 48 hours. Tempted by what’s on in Birmingham this October? Come and stay! Our serviced apartments Birmingham are right in the heart of the city and perfectly located for making the most of all of the events above.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/whats-on-in-birmingham-this-october/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/whats-on-in-birmingham-this-october/Mon, 03 October 2016 14:06:57 Meet Alex our new Guest Relations Managerhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/meet-alex-our-new-guest-relations-manager/We'd like to introduce you to our new Guest Relations Manager. His name is Alex Mee and he comes to us from the Crowne Plaza Birmingham and InterContinental Hotels. Alex has a 1st class degree in International Business Management and speaks French and Spanish as second languages.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/meet-alex-our-new-guest-relations-manager/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/meet-alex-our-new-guest-relations-manager/Sat, 01 October 2016 09:34:37 Visit Birmingham this Christmas | Staying Coolhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/christmas-in-birmingham-brings-the-christmas-markets-and-plenty-more/Birmingham looks wonderful in the weeks up to Christmas with even more going on than usual! The Frankfurt Christmas Market brings a festive buzz to the city streets and there are suddenly lights everywhere to lift dark winter days. If you're planning to spend a few days in the lead up to Christmas in Birmingham then we'd suggest that you plan well in advance to enjoy the best the city has to offer. We've picked some events that are bound to be very popular - book soon. Christmas bubbly Planning to enjoy a glass (or two) of champagne on Christmas morning? Loki Wine (Great Western Arcade) is running a champagne tasting event on December 10 th , which should help you to narrow down some top contenders. Tickets are £45. Let there be light A first for Christmas in Birmingham! Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens will be transformed by The Magic Lantern Festival from November 23 rd to January 2 nd . The festival was a big hit in London last year and 2016 sees its Birmingham debut. Follow a trail which leads you past beautiful giant lanterns representing Christmas and Chinese culture and feel that festive vibe! Tickets start at £12.50 for an adult. Skating and the big wheel At Christmas an illuminated big wheel and an outdoor ice skating rink are installed in front of The Library of Birmingham. It’s a beautiful, hugely Instagramable scene! Tickets are on sale now for skating and the wheel. They open two days after the Christmas Market and close on January 8 th . Skating tickets are £9.50 for an adult. Classical Christmas Birmingham’s Symphony Hall has a beautiful interior that’s perfectly suited to a Christmas concert. The 2016 Christmas season offers delights such as Handel by Candlelight, The Town Hall Gospel Choir and a Strauss Gala . Christmas in Birmingham doesn't get much more Christmassy than this! Belly laughs The run up to Christmas can leave us all a little frazzled. Laughter is the perfect stress reliever and there are some top comedy names coming to Birmingham this December. Book now for Stephen K Amos , Shazia Mirza and 25 Years of Reeves and Mortimer . Birmingham’s Glee Club is running Christmas comedy nights if you fancy an alternative to the usual work Christmas party. Fabulous food We’re dining partners with The Wilderness restaurant because we can’t get enough of their adventurous, delicious food . On TripAdvisor The Wilderness, which opened only a few months ago, is already rated as number two in Birmingham behind Adam’s Michelin starred restaurant. If you want to eat at The Wilderness in the lead up to Christmas then we’d advise you to book now, foodies! Slap my thighs, it’s panto time! Seeing the panto at the Birmingham Hippodrome is an annual treat for many people spending Christmas in Birmingham. It ticks all of the festive boxes – gorgeous theatre – tick, big names – tick, guaranteed fun – tick. Last Christmas, the panto was seen by an astonishing 119,000 people! This December and January, you can see Dick Whittington starring uber-talented John Barrowman, Eastender Steve McFadden and - drum roll, please –The Krankies! Families go back to year after year to the Hippodrome panto, so thousands of tickets have already been sold - book quickly to secure good seats. Tickets start at £15.50. Panto alternatives Panto not your bag? Birmingham Royal Ballet bring The Nutcracker to The Hippodrome until December 13 th . This sumptuous production has run for the past 25 years and was described by The Sunday Times as,“Magnificent....looking as fresh and enthralling as it ever did.” Tickets start at £19. If it’s a family theatre show you’re after then the Birmingham Rep’s Treasure Island could be an excellent production. It runs from the end of November until January 7 th . This looks perfect for families who don’t do panto, but want plenty of adventure and action. Tickets start at £10. MAC Birmingham has The Bear based on the book by Raymond Briggs. It should be a delight for younger children – kids are asked to bring along a teddy bear and to wear their pyjamas for evening shows, so they’re ready for bed. The cute factor will be through the roof at MAC this Christmas! (tickets £12.50). Love the talkies? The programme hasn’t yet been released at the time of publishing but Birmingham’s indie Electric cinema always offers a fantastic array of Christmas classics (previous offerings include White Christmas and It’s A Wonderful Life). Our advice is to get on the Electric’s mailing list and pounce quickly once tickets are released. No room at the inn? The Frankfurt Christmas Market is a huge draw for visitors to Birmingham. We are delighted that it has been extended by a week this year and will run from November 17 th to December 29 th (usually it closes down just before Christmas). The Christmas Market is huge and lends the centre of Birmingham a wonderful atmosphere. There’s no entry fee for the Christmas Market, but if you are planning to stay over in Birmingham then we’d strongly advise you to book your stay now . Our chic serviced apartments are right in the centre of Birmingham (the market starts just to the left as you exit our building) and it’s one of our busiest times of the year. The image below shows one of our 5* penthouse apartments .https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/christmas-in-birmingham-brings-the-christmas-markets-and-plenty-more/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/christmas-in-birmingham-brings-the-christmas-markets-and-plenty-more/Tue, 27 September 2016 12:35:41 UK Design Museum In London | Staying Coolhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-uks-design-museum-reopens-in-london-this-week/We aim for excellent design here at Staying Cool (all of our apartments are designed in-house by co-founder Paul Taylor). Therefore we were excited to see that London's Design Museum reopens in late November with ' Beazley Designs of the Year' and 'Fear and Love: Reactions to a Complex World' The new Design Museum opens on November 24th, 2016 and can be found on Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG. We can't wait to take a look!https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-uks-design-museum-reopens-in-london-this-week/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-uks-design-museum-reopens-in-london-this-week/Mon, 26 September 2016 11:45:52 Great Western Arcade: Our Top Pickshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/great-western-arcade-our-favourite-places/Birmingham's Great Western Arcade (GWA) is a fine example of a Victorian shopping arcade and - as such - seriously photogenic. Head to GWA if you are looking for high-quality, independent shops in Birmingham. Think hand-made chocolateOurs, perfect delis, cutting-edge fashion, sushi, beauty treats and damn-fine coffee. Here are seven great reasons you should head for Great Western Arcade . 1) Loki Wine We adore Loki Wine. This acclaimed wine merchants also has a cool tasting lounge above the store. 2) Treat Just back from Greece? Recreate the dream at this family-run Greek deli . Beautifully presented food including seriously tempting pastries. 3) At One Day Spa From express massages to spa packages for one or two, At One Spa is a great place to relax and unwind at the heart of Brum. 4) Chouchoute Hand-made chocolates made with love by Frenchman Pierre Soualah and his team. 5) Anderson and Hill Anderson and Hill is the perfect traditional deli . Foodies walk this way. 6) Jaeger Outlet Be still our beating hearts! Birmingham's Jaeger Outlet offers cut-price goodies from an iconic British brand . 7) Designer Exchange Do we need to say more than vintage Gucci ? There is much more on offer at GWA than we've been able to cover above (and they have a swanky gin bar plus a macaroon &amp; prosecco shop opening this autumn). We hope you enjoy the unique slice of Birmingham that is Great Western Arcade .https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/great-western-arcade-our-favourite-places/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/great-western-arcade-our-favourite-places/Fri, 23 September 2016 19:38:38 Preview the new exhibtion programme at Birmingham's Ikon Galleryhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/preview-the-new-exhibtion-programme-at-birminghams-ikon-gallery/IKON gallery is one of Birmingham's coolest spots and a must-see if you are into contemporary art. Two exciting new exhibitions are set to open there in the next few days. We'd recommend adding IKON to your autumn schedule. This Friday (September 23rd) sees the following new exhibitions open at IKON : Solo exhibition by New-York based artist Žilvinas Kempinas . Kempinas, who grew up in Lithuania, has earned international renown for his installations created using left-field materials such as video tape. His new installation was created specifically or IKON, so this is a real coup for Birmingham. Major exhibition by Glasgow-based Sara Barker . Delicate metal and glass structures from one of The Guardian's 'Rising Stars of 2015.' IKON houses Birmingham's only specialist art bookshop.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/preview-the-new-exhibtion-programme-at-birminghams-ikon-gallery/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/preview-the-new-exhibtion-programme-at-birminghams-ikon-gallery/Tue, 20 September 2016 21:07:53 Birmingham Comedy Festival 2016https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birmingham-comedy-festival-2016/Birmingham's annual comedy festival is back soon. 2016's festival is a ten-day extravaganza and runs this year from Friday, October 7th to Sunday, October 16th. Over 70 performances are on offer. Take your pick from big names and those who are yet to hit the big time! Enjoy the comic genius of Jason Bryne and Romesh Ranganathan plus Mock The Week's Gary Delaney . We'd also recommend checking out newcomers at the Breaking Talent Award at The Glee Club. It's a great way to see the next big thing! Birmingham Comedy Festival tickets are available online .https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birmingham-comedy-festival-2016/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birmingham-comedy-festival-2016/Mon, 19 September 2016 13:51:56 Style Birmingham's 50 Favourite Things to Do in Birmingham Guidehttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/style-birminghams-50-favourite-things-to-do-in-birmingham-guide/To celebrate its 50th edition, the team at Style Birmingham magazine have put together their 50 favourite things about the city. Read it online for an excellent introduction to the coolest places to go. The vast majority of the events and places recommended by Style Birmingham's are within easy walking distance of our serviced apartments at the Rotunda. Check out Style's favourite places and events and you'll have an amazing time here as an honorary cool Brummie. Style Magazine is available online . We think it will help you to have a excellent stay in Birmingham.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/style-birminghams-50-favourite-things-to-do-in-birmingham-guide/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/style-birminghams-50-favourite-things-to-do-in-birmingham-guide/Sun, 18 September 2016 16:42:50 British Street Food Festival 2016https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/british-street-food-festival-2016/If you love great food don't miss this weekend in Birmingham! The British Street Food Festival is taking place on Saturday and Sunday. Street food vendors will be cooking up a storm in an effort to be named number one in Britain in the British Street Food Awards 2016. The 17 street food finalists will compete from Saturday 17th-Sunday 18th September at the Digbeth Dining Club. The shortlist makes mouthwatering reading! The British Street Food Festival runs on Saturday 17th Sept from 11am-8pm and on Sunday 18th Sept from 11am-6pm. Tickets are still available online (at time of posting).https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/british-street-food-festival-2016/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/british-street-food-festival-2016/Sat, 17 September 2016 17:52:21 The airline Jet2 has started flying from Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-airline-jet2-has-started-flying-from-birmingham/We were delighted to see that Jet2 has expanded its operations to Birmingham Airport for Summer 2017. Destinations include Crete, Rhodes, Cyprus, Portugal and Spain, including the Balearic Islands. However, there's no need to be stuck out at the airport for a stopover before or after your Jet2 flight . Our serviced apartments Birmingham are perfectly located for New Street Station and you can travel to the airport in as little as nine minutes. Why not turn your night away into an opportunity to stay with us? Book one of our chic serviced apartments and make the most of this great city.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-airline-jet2-has-started-flying-from-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-airline-jet2-has-started-flying-from-birmingham/Wed, 14 September 2016 13:38:03 Take a look at the best of Birmingham 2017 with our Calendarhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/take-a-look-at-the-best-of-birmingham-2017-with-our-calendar/Photographer Verity Milligan takes exceptionally beautiful photos of Birmingham. Her new 2017 calendar features selected shots of her adoptive city. This includes one of the Rotunda building - where we are based - and two actually taken from our serviced apartments in Birmingham. We think the calendar would make the perfect gift for anyone who loves Brum! Verity's calendar is available direct from her online for £10 and features her top twelve images of Birmingham. Sights include cherry blossom in front of Ikon Gallery , an exterior shot of The Library of Birmingham and an exclusive shot over New Street Station taken from one of our 5* Staying Cool penthouses . Verity Milligan's Birmingham 2017 Calendar is generously sized at 29.7cm x 42cm. Get it while you can!https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/take-a-look-at-the-best-of-birmingham-2017-with-our-calendar/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/take-a-look-at-the-best-of-birmingham-2017-with-our-calendar/Tue, 13 September 2016 11:23:56 A great offer for anyone entering the Great Birmingham Runhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/great-birmingham-run-offer/Taking part in the Great Birmingham Run this October? Stay the night following the run in one of our serviced apartments Birmingham and enjoy a complimentary bottle of champagne! How to claim Simply show us your Great Birmingham Run race card when you book in and we'll present you with a bottle of champagne. We feel that it's the least we can do for someone who's taking on the challenge of a half marathon. Offer is for one bottle of champagne per apartment.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/great-birmingham-run-offer/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/great-birmingham-run-offer/Tue, 06 September 2016 22:08:37 The History of Birmingham - 19 facts you probably didn't knowhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-history-of-birmingham-19-facts-you-probably-didnt-know/Here are 19 of our favourite facts from the history of Birmingham and snapshots of a few of the notable historical figures who were born here Brummies have been around for at least 500,000 years ! The proof is in a Stone Age axe that was dug up in 1890. This mind-blowing artefact can be seen (for free) at BMAG in the centre of the city . Birmingham’s name stems from Beormingaham , the Old English for home (ham) of the people (ing) of the tribal leader Beorma. Unfortunately nothing more is known about Beorma, but we suspect that he/she was a really ‘bosting’ human being. People from Birmingham are now called Brummies . This comes from the city's old dialect name, Brummagem. The history of Birmingham shows us that the city has always been well connected. The Romans – who knew a thing or two about logistics -built a major military fort in what is now the Edgbaston area of the city. We owe our great city to Henry II . 850 years ago, Henry granted a royal charter to one Peter de Birmingham that allowed a weekly market to be held at his manor and tolls to be charged on traffic. That got the Birmingham ball rolling and over the next two decades a tiny hamlet grew into a town. From little acorns…etcetera etcetera. Brummies have always been an industrious lot. Medieval Birmingham was known for its wool industry and by the late 14th century Birmingham was also known for metal and leatherwork . The Bull Ring - now a vibrant shopping centre - has been an important part of Brummie life for well over 800 years. Its distinctive name comes from the blood sport of bull baiting using dogs (thankfully banned many, many moons ago). Many Brummies supported Parliament rather than the king in the English Civil War and provided its armies with swords. During the Battle of Birmingham in 1643 about a tenth of the town was burnt to the ground when Prince Rupert’s Royalist troops attacked. The 18 th century was boom time for Birmingham . In 1720, Birmingham it had a population between 11-12,000, by 1750 the population had doubled to about 24,000, by the end of the century the population of was 73,000. A massive rise in 80 years! In 1815, the skeleton of a soldier wearing a Civil War period helmet was unearthed in Floodgate Street, Birmingham. Birmingham also played a part in another civil war – this time in the USA – by making millions of guns to be used in the American Civil War . The deadly trade developed from the late 1700s and was massively profitable. Professor David Williams, author of The Birmingham Gun Trade, wrote that, “Profligate gun makers and barrel makers on wages of £20 and £50 a week (in the early 1860s) were lighting cigars in public houses with £5 notes'. The Lunar Society of Birmingham was an exclusive dining club established in the mid-eighteenth century by the Midlands intelligentsia. Over the five decades or so it existed men such as Joseph Priestley, Josiah Wedgwood and Erasmus Darwin (Charles’ grandpa) were members. Birmingham's first canal was opened in 1769. We are ridiculously proud of the fact that we have more canals than Venice . Thanks to our inventive, entrepreneurial spirit Birmingham became known as The City of 1,000 trades . 19th century Birmingham specialised in producing nails, brass goods, nuts, bolts, screws, buttons, pen nibs, toys, jewellery, railway carriages, bicycles and glass! The composer Antonin Dvorak (born 1814) said of Birmingham: "I'm here in this immense industrial city where they make excellent knives, scissors, springs, files and goodness knows what else, and, besides these, music too. And how well! It's terrifying how much the people here manage to achieve." At one point, Brummies could claim with pride that 75% of everything written in the world was written using a pen nib made in Birmingham. Learn more at the city's Pen Museum . Over 4,000 Belgians took refuge in Birmingham when Germany invaded their country in 1914. Many were sent to live with local families. The Hall of Memory (found close to the Library of Birmingham) commemorates the deaths of the 12,320 Birmingham people who died during WWI. Another 35,000 were injured. Public donations paid for the building, which opened in 1925. The names of the those who died in WWII and later conflicts have been added. After London and Liverpool, Birmingham received the most damage from air raids during World War II . 2,241 people died and their names are commemorated on the Tree of Life memorial close to St Martin in the Bull Ring. The history of Birmingham – 12 Brummies of distinction We’re an inventive lot,full of entrepreneurial spirit. Here are a few fascinating Brummies, some of whom you may never have heard of. Francis Aston (born 1877) won the 1922 Nobel Prize for Chemistry . The science behind his win is completely beyond our comprehension, but you can read about his achievements on the Nobel Prize website . Albert Austin (born 1882) was a silent film star who worked with Charlie Chaplin on his hugely successful films including The Kid. He was a member of the Fred Karno troupe with Chaplin and travelled over to the USA with him in 1910. Sir Michael Balcon (born 1896) was a successful British film producer who - amongst many other achievements - helped to launch Alfred Hitchcock’s career Edward Benson (born 1829) began his career as a schoolmaster at Rugby but ended it as Archbishop of Canterbury . A story Benson told the author Henry James inspired the still chilling ghost story The Turn of the Screw . Sir Alfred Bird (born 1878) invented custard powder (for which he should be remembered and praised forever!) because his wife was allergic to eggs. The wonderfully eccentric Bird family are said to have been chauffeured around in custard yellow Rolls Royces. Birmingham’s creative quarter, The Custard Factory , is based on the site of the factory. Artist Sir Edward Burne Jones (born1833) was a major player in the Pre-Raphaelite movement . Birmingham is home to the largest public collection of his work (at BMAG – free to visit). This includes some stunning stained glass and The Star of Bethlehem – the largest watercolour of the 19 th century – which was commissioned for BMAG. No history of Birmingham would be complete without a Cadbury or two. John Cadbury founded the eponymous chocolate company in 1831 selling cocoa and drinking chocolate. The company made its first Easter egg in 1875, The innovative Bournville manufacturing site was the brainchild of John Cadbury’s son George. Neville Chamberlain (born 1869) became British Prime Minister in 1937. He had previously serviced as Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minster for Health. Chamberlain’s reputation as PM has been dominated by his attempts to keep the peace with Nazi Germany. He finally declared war in 1939 after Germany invaded Poland. Artist Edith Holden (born 1871) became famous decades after her death by drowning in 1920. Her intricate drawings of the natural world were published in 1977 as The Edwardian Diary of a Country Lady . It is thought that Holden drowned in the Thames near Kew Gardens in London having tried and failed to reach a branch of chestnut buds she wished to draw. Jane C.Loudon (born 1807) was an early sci-fi pioneer and best known for 'The Mummy! Or a Tale of the Twenty-Second Century'. Her circle of friends included Dickens and Thackery. John Rogers (born c.1500) was the first Protestant martyr to die in the reign of Mary 1 st . Rogers, a priest and bible translator, was burned at the stake for the crime of heresy. Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck (born 1778) wrote in support of the anti-slavery movement . She was born Mary Anne Galton but married into a Dutch reading family (hence her unusual surname). Schimmelpenninck was a determined character: she took part in the anti-slavery sugar boycott of 1791 at the age of 13 and remained a staunch abolitionist despite the fact that her husband was a partner in slave voyagers. Come and stay We hope that this history of Birmingham has inspired you to visit our city. It’s a fascinating place. Our chic serviced apartments are based in a unique Grade II Listed building called the Rotunda. You’ll find us right at the heart of the city: it’s the perfect base for exploring the history of Birmingham.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-history-of-birmingham-19-facts-you-probably-didnt-know/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/the-history-of-birmingham-19-facts-you-probably-didnt-know/Fri, 02 September 2016 20:05:09 What's On in Birmingham This September?https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/whats-on-in-birmingham-this-september/As always, there are some brilliant events coming up in Birmingham this month including Heritage Open days, Reggae Cook Outs, food festivals and top-class comedy. This is our pick of events taking place around the city centre during September 2016. Reggae Caribbean Cook Out (4 th September, The Coffin Works) Just writing about this event makes the mouth water! Enjoy a Jamaican style cookout and rum cocktails plus a seriously relaxed vibe. Heritage Open Days (8 th -11 th September) The Heritage Open Day weekend is a big deal in Birmingham. There are lots of special events across the city: to stay central you could check out tours of St Philip’s Cathedral, Ikon Gallery. St Martin’s in the Bull Ring or the Jewellery Quarter. The Importance of Being Earnest (9 th -24 th September) at the Birmingham Rep This new production of Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy stars Cathy Tyson as the fearsome Lady Bracknell. Wilde’s witty play about class is in safe hands at the Rep. Birmingham Chilli Festival (16 th – 17 th September) Our city is huge on food and this month brings the annual Chilli Festival . Are you brave/foolish enough to apply for the Chilli Challenge?! The festival also offers lots of delicious food, live music and street performances. Drink and Draw ( Saturday, 17 th September) BMAG We adore the concept of Drink and Draw! It’s a free social drawing event held in BMAG’s Edwardian Tea Rooms (alcoholic drinks are available - it is a Saturday night!). Issy Sutty (Friday, 23 rd September, Glee Club, Birmingham) Comedian and actress Issy Sutty (Peep Show, Shameless and Skins) brings her show ‘The Actual One’ to Birmingham’s Glee Club . The show revolves around Sutty’s fear of finally being forced to grow up in her late twenties. #MrSelfridgesGonewild Unfortunately, these anarchic pop up restaurant nights at Selfridges sold out before we published our blog, but you can still eat with the team at their restaurant, The Wilderness . It’s rated 5/5 on TripAdvisor and we love the place! Coming to stay in Birmingham? The Guest Relations team at our Birmingham serviced apartments are always very happy to help guests with plans for making the most of Birmingham. Just let them know what you’re looking for before you arrive or during your stay.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/whats-on-in-birmingham-this-september/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/whats-on-in-birmingham-this-september/Thu, 01 September 2016 17:16:34 Chic Clubman Apartmentshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/chic-clubman-apartments/Our Clubman serviced apartments are 5* (it's official), beautifully designed and found right at the heart of Birmingham. These spacious one-bedroom apartments are the perfect option if you are looking for a cool place to stay in Birmingham. Indulge yourself with 52 square metres of Staying Cool style! 5 things to love about our Clubman serviced apartments (you'll find more) Our Clubman apartments have really spacious living rooms . Relax in style. The apartments are filled with light all day. Massive, ceiling height windows look out over Birmingham. The cityscapes are tremendous (especially at night) and will look fabulous on your Instagram feed. Cool Poggenpofl kitchens allow you to please yourself where food is concerned. Eat what you want, when you want. Each apartment is unique featuring funky, high-end furniture and bespoke art . Clubman apartments start at £129 (per apartment per night). They're the perfect place to enjoy a stay in Birmingham. Read more and check out availabilityhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/chic-clubman-apartments/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/chic-clubman-apartments/Wed, 31 August 2016 19:41:37 Enjoy this burger recipe for National Burger Dayhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/enjoy-this-burger-recipe-for-national-burger-day/Happy National Burger Day! Years ago, our MD was given a burger recipe by her friend Vincent who's a chef. The recipe has become a lasting favourite with Tracey's friends and family, so we thought we'd share it here. The Vincent Burger All of our serviced apartments Birmingham have a chic Poggenpohl kitchen for guests to use. Whether you're staying with us or cooking at home, we hope you'll find these burgers delicious. Ingredients 500g beef mince (we recommend Duchy 10% fat) Large pinch of cumin powder Teaspoon of dried coriander Good handful of parmesan cheese 1 onion Couple of handfuls of breadcrumbs 1 egg Tablespoon of English mustard Method (a) Softly fry the onion until nice and light brown and a little caramelised. (b) Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. (c) Scrunch together in hands to form five burgers (d) Put in fridge for an hour to firm up. (e) Fry or barbecue. (f) Eat! Bon appétit!https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/enjoy-this-burger-recipe-for-national-burger-day/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/enjoy-this-burger-recipe-for-national-burger-day/Thu, 25 August 2016 09:00:00 Digbeth First Fridayhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/digbeth-first-friday/Into culture and the arts? Digbeth First Friday brings one of Birmingham's coolest quarters alive on the first Friday evening of every month. It's the perfect way to enjoy a taste of Birmingham's unique spirit with exhibitions, late-night openings, special events, culture, street food and live music on offer. Digbeth is just a few minutes' walk away from our serviced apartments Birmingham. The next Digbeth First Friday takes place on September 2nd. Follow them on @digbethfirstfri for full details and what you can look forward to in September. Different events take place each month, so tune in to their social media for the latest news. Credit: David Rowan (crowd scene)https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/digbeth-first-friday/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/digbeth-first-friday/Mon, 22 August 2016 12:26:39 Things To Do In Birmingham With Childrenhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/things-to-do-in-birmingham-with-children/Here are 7 cool things to do in Birmingham with children . Most of them are cool and free! 1. Walk Like An Egyptian Tick off culture on your list for free by heading for BMAG. BMAG (Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery) has tonnes to offer such as Ancient Egyptian mummies and the Anglo-saxon Staffordshire Hoard. BMAG holds regular events for kids such as Pokemon Go hunts and weekend art sessions. A new Mini museum opened in 2016 within BMAG especially for under 5s. 2. Get S-H-O-P-P-I-N-G Shopping obsessed teens or tweens on your hands? Shopping is huge in Birmingham! Whatever tribe your kids belong to, they’ll have lots of choice from high-street to vintage. The Bullring centre alone has over 160 shops and we're the only UK city outside London with five department stores. Check out the Shopping in Birmingham website for the full breakdown. 3. BECOME EGGHEADS A visit to Thinktank is definitely one of our favourite things to do in Birmingham with kids under 10. This science museum is a wonderful place to persuade your kids that learning can be fun. Check out the planetarium, the science garden and the Spitfire Gallery. ThinkTank isn't free entry, but family tickets start at £33. 4. SUPPORT YOUR TEAM If your family love to watch sport together, then you’ll be spoilt for choice in Birmingham. Edgbaston Cricket Club hosts Test matches, county championships, Natwest T20 Blasts and more. If you enjoy athletics , you can see top sportspeople at the NIA and the Alexander Stadium. Villa and City are Brum’s biggest football clubs . They both offer stadium tours, which could be a fun way to spend an afternoon for footie fans. 5. BE THOROUGHLY ENTERTAINED Birmingham’s biggest theatre – the Birmingham Hippodrome - sells more tickets than any other theatre in the UK (take that, London’s West End!). The Hippodrome is an amazing place to see a show and they’re also famed for big name pantos. Birmingham Rep hosts smaller scale, more intimate shows and has a great reputation for family productions. 6. GET FUNKY The Custard Factory in Digbeth is a hub for creative businesses and a great place to head for if your family want something a bit different. It’s a great place to get hold of cool t-shirts and art. 7. EAT CHOCOLATE! Cadbury World is one of the best known things to do in Birmingham with children and it’s certainly a memorable day out that most kids (and grown ups!) will love. On a more modest scale, Chouchoute Chocolaterie in the city’s Great Western Arcade is the place to go if you are in need of some delicious chocolate in central Brum. Family Accommodation in Birmingham Staying Cool at the Rotunda offers serviced apartments in Birmingham that are perfect for a relaxing family break. These family-friendly apartments are at the very centre of Birmingham and just a couple of minutes’ walk from both major train stations. Our Roadster penthouses and Maxi apartments have two ensuite bedrooms and offer your family the space to relax in with spacious lounges and well-equipped kitchens. Prices for a two bed Maxi start at £170 per night per apartment. We offer a free package called Cool for Kids to all families to make your stay even more enjoyable.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/things-to-do-in-birmingham-with-children/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/things-to-do-in-birmingham-with-children/Sun, 24 July 2016 19:44:18 Celebrate English Wine Week with a free bottlehttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/celebrate-english-wine-week-with-a-free-bottle/Staying Cool serviced apartments, Birmingham is celebrating English Wine Week by giving away English wine to guests. Each day from 28th May-5th June a guest will be picked at random to receive a bottle of New Hall Vineyard's New Hall Bacchus Reserve 2014 when they check in. The New Hall Vineyard was established in Purleigh, England in 1969. Gavin Burns, Staying Cool's general manager, said: "We sourced the New Hall Bacchus from Loki Wine , which is a fellow independent business here in Birmingham. Our winners seem to be delighted so far." Gavin continued, "We regularly feature English wines on our Extras Menu for guests to enjoy while they're staying at our serviced apartments in Birmingham. Many English wines are delicious. On a personal note, I'm very fond of Chapel Down's Blanc de Blancs as an alternative to champagne. "https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/celebrate-english-wine-week-with-a-free-bottle/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/celebrate-english-wine-week-with-a-free-bottle/Mon, 30 May 2016 09:00:09 What is a Serviced Apartment?https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/what-is-a-serviced-apartment/Many of our guests are new to serviced apartments - although they soon become converts – and we are often asked the question, ‘ What is a serviced apartment? ’ The simple answer is that a serviced apartment is a cross between a hotel room and a holiday rental apartment. It’s a home away from home . Serviced apartments give you the flexibility of renting a fully-furnished apartment (with your own lounge, kitchen and bedroom/s) combined with excellent concierge style services and in-room freebies such as ground coffee and breakfast packs (plus paid extras such as champagne). Enjoy the advantages of the independence of an AirBnb-style trip, but be supported by a concierge team with a wealth of local knowledge. You’ll also be able to leave any cleaning and the washing up to the housekeepers . You can hold a meeting then have a drink and rustle up a meal; play with your kids and then enjoy some ‘me’ time while they sleep; relax together on the sofa in front of a great film; share with frends or family for a long overdue reunion. In other words, feel completely at home . Relax Guests in serviced apartments enjoy 30% more space than in the equivalent hotel room according to the ASAP (Association of Serviced Apartments). 1 A hotel room is generally just that – a room - while a serviced apartment gives you a separate living space to relax in plus a kitchen. You’ll enjoy great value and have more space to relax when you choose a serviced apartment. Say no to service charges, outrageous mini bar prices and working at a tiny desk often while paying for Wi-Fi. Eat Well With well-equipped kitchens and dining areas , serviced apartments give you complete freedom about what you eat and when . Eat out, eat in, order food to be delivered or, if you’re feeling flush, ask your concierge to book a private chef…. Have a relaxed start to the day over a private breakfast , stay on the healthy-eating regime you rely on at home, rustle up a bowl of pasta for a hungry toddler, collapse on the sofa and enjoy a well-earned cuppa. Serviced apartments open up all of this and more. Travel light Quality serviced apartment providers put a lot of thought into what will make your stay easier . For example, at Staying Cool’s Birmingham serviced apartments (UK) you’ll arrive to find towelling robes and towels, toiletries and a full-size hairdryer. In the well-equipped kitchen, fresh milk, olive oil, balsamic vinegar plus teas and coffees are on hand. All apartments also have a washing machine, iron and ironing board hidden away. To add to that feeling of being at home , Staying Cool provides a top-of-the-range Sky TV package plus fast, reliable fibre optic broadband. Spend Wisely Prices for serviced apartments are for the whole apartment not per person so you can often save money if you are travelling with friends or family. INSIDER TIP : If you are planning to stay more than a day or so or visit regularly then always get in touch with the serviced apartment provider as you may be able to enjoy a discount . It is also worth bearing in mind that it should always be cheaper to book directly with the serviced aparment company rather than through an online booking agent. Stay Flexible A serviced apartment gives you the chance to make yourself at home without commitment. If you need to stay for a few days, weeks or months in a new place without the hassle of contracts and deposits or buying new furniture then they could be the perfect solution. Serviced Apartment Industry Stats Serviced apartments are the fastest growing growing sector of the UK hospitality market according to research undertaken by the ASAP in partnership with Savills. 1 According to The Apartment Service the number of serviced apartments across the globe increased by 18.2% between 2014 and 2015. 2 Serviced Apartment FAQ What should I search for to find a serviced apartment? Depending on what country you are in, a serviced apartments may sometimes be known as an aparthotel, corporate housing, extended stay, residences, suites or studios. The UK tends to favour ‘serviced apartment’. How can I guarantee the quality of my serviced apartment? We’d recommend booking a serviced apartment that is accredited by the ASAP (Association of Serviced Apartment Providers). The ASAP operates in nine countries including the UK and represents over 100,000 properties. Look for quality accreditation in the region you are travelling to. In the UK, excellent schemes are run by Visit England the The AA. What is the minimum stay in a serviced apartment? Traditionally serviced apartments were favoured over hotels for stays of a week or more, but nowadays guests are staying for much shorter periods as guests appreciate the benefits of a home-away-from-home for just one night. Some operators may have a minimum stay but most operators now accept one night stays. Who stays in a serviced apartment? In our experience, there is no typical serviced apartment guest. We welcome business travellers; solo adventurers; people who are relocating to Birmingham; families; couples; and people who want to share living space with their friends or family. They certainly appeal to those who want to be a name and not just a number. Charles McCrow, CEO of The Apartment Service, said: “Unlike homogenous hotel products, we believe that the inherent individuality of serviced apartments is one of the major factors in the sector’s success. Guests – and millennial travellers in particular - want the variety of options that brands present to meet their individual needs; they want to sample local styles, culture and experiences.” 3 How can I book a serviced apartment? We’d recommend booking direct via the property’s website , but you can also use specialist serviced apartment agents such as Silver Door , City Base and TAS Alliance or GDS for corporate bookings. There are serviced apartments all over the world and it’s a very fast growing sector. Research from Savills, the global real estate services provider, forecasts that the number of serviced apartments will grow by over 70% between 2015-2018. 1 Conclusion The serviced apartment sector is a vibrant one that’s growing globally at a fast rate. The number of serviced apartments in the world grew by 80% from 2008-2016. 3 If you were asking “What Is a Serviced Apartment?” give the concept a try using our hints and tips above. Sources 1 Benefits of Using A Serviced Apartments by the Association of Serviced Apartments 2 Extended Stay: Uk Stock Set To Double by Savills and the ASAP 3 Flexible Living, Short-term Thinking, Long-term Rewards by Knight Frank 4 The Global Serviced Apartments Industry Report 2015/16 by The Apartment Service Worldwide About the Authors Staying Cool’s serviced apartments Birmingham are found in a Grade-II Listed building called the Rotunda. The apartments range from VIP penthouses with wraparound balconies to chic studios . Prices start at £99 and Staying Cool welcomes guests from around the world.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/what-is-a-serviced-apartment/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/what-is-a-serviced-apartment/Fri, 27 May 2016 17:16:00 Staying Cool announces tie up with Bespoke Hotelshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cool-announces-tie-up-with-bespoke-hotels/Staying Cool and Bespoke Hotels, the rapidly growing British hotel group, today announced a new partnership that aims to expand the Staying Cool brand across Britain and beyond. The recently signed deal involves a minority equity stake, a co-development agreement and the appointment of Bespoke co-founder and chairman Robin Sheppard, as chairman of Staying Cool. The alliance brings both businesses a number of valuable opportunities including the joint development of new sites across the UK as either dedicated aparthotels or mixed use sites combining both hotel and serviced apartments, in an innovative new proposition. The pair are currently in discussions over several schemes. On announcing the deal chairman Robin Sheppard, who himself has taken a minority equity stake, said, “This partnership is a first for the UK. At Bespoke we see the rapid growth of the serviced apartment sector as a significant market opportunity rather than a threat to established hotels. With its focus on design, innovation and customer service, Staying Cool is one of the most exciting apartment brands we could hope to partner with. We believe they offer something unique and rather special in the serviced apartment space. They boast rave customer reviews, while their award-winning track record speaks for itself.” Our co-founding directors, Tracey Stephenson and Paul Taylor, said, “We are delighted by this deal and what it offers. Having a strong, like-minded and dynamic partner will help accelerate our plans for growth. The serviced apartment sector has a real buzz about it, attracting significant investment interest as well as appealing to a growing customer base. With Robin’s experience and the added fire power of Bespoke alongside us, we are in pole position to take the business to the next level and to ensure that Staying Cool reaches its full growth and brand potential over the coming years."https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cool-announces-tie-up-with-bespoke-hotels/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cool-announces-tie-up-with-bespoke-hotels/Mon, 11 April 2016 00:00:00 Serviced Apartments Birmingham Offershttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/serviced-apartments-birmingham-offers/We have some great offers on the best serviced apartments Birmingham has ever seen . Staying Cool at the Rotunda offers something that’s unique not just to the city but to the UK . Our ultra-chic apartments are based in a Grade-II Listed skyscraper at the centre of Birmingham. The Rotunda is tubular and it’s a Brummie icon ! Staying Cool’s serviced apartments in Birmingham range from two-bedroom penthouses with wraparound balconies to studio apartments . We offer the only 5 star accommodation in Birmingham (and that includes hotels). No matter the size, every apartment is unique and designed by our in house team. We don’t do bland and corporate. We do stylish and sleek with pops of colour. The best value way for you to come and stay in one of our serviced apartments is by booking direct. You will always find our lowest rates on this website (and if we ever slip up on this we will refund the difference plus an extra £5). We also have some unique offers that are only available direct : Special offers for romantic breaks Birmingham If you choose one of our serviced apartments Birmingham takes on a distinctly romantic hue. We’ve already been the very special location for many an engagement. The apartments feel very special and the views across Birmingham are outstanding, especially at night. We have offers for Romantic Breaks and Wedding Nights. Our romantic breaks for couples include chic 4 star or 5 star accommodation, a bottle of champers, the ingredients for a Full English Breakfast (no need to get dressed!), a bouquet of flowers, chocs and extra late check out of 1pm for Sunday departures. A night with Staying Cool is the ultimate stylish wedding night . On arrival you'll find a bottle of champagne chilling in the fridge and rose petals decorating your king-size, pocket sprung Ultimate bed. You’ll have had a wonderful but busy day, so you'll find a Midnight Munchies pack on hand (chocolates, crisps, biscuits and nuts). Make the most of your complimentary late check out (1pm) by enjoying a leisurely breakfast together. Everything you need to make either a Full English breakfast or Smoked Salmon bagels will be on hand. NB: We’re also happy for you to use the apartments as a stunning wedding backdrop for wedding photos. Call our Guest Relations team to discuss what you are looking for. Special offers for weekend breaks Birmingham We never claim to offer the cheapest serviced apartments Birmingham has to offer (we’re aim for quality). However, our Sunday Special and Alternative Weekend offers combine fantastic freebies with competitive rates. If you want to indulge yourself with a long weekend away, then our Sunday Special gives you Sunday night half price if you stay Friday and Saturday. Our peak times tend to be Friday and Saturday so our Alt Weekend Offer (as seen in The Observer Magazine) rewards those who can be more flexible about when they stay with some special treats. Stay Sunday and Monday night and you'll not only save on the room rate but you’ll also find a complimentary bottle of champagne chilling for you on arrival plus everything you need to make a delicious Full English breakfast. Special offers for university drop offs If you are dropping off a child at university in Birmingham or attending graduation then why not treat yourself to a night at Staying Cool? It’s the perfect base to get to know the city and our serviced apartments will make you feel good. We offer a complimentary bottle of champagne chilling on arrival , so you can either toast your new-found freedom or having another graduate in the family! Details of our offer for parents of Birmingham undergraduates and graduates Business stay offers in Birmingham Staying Cool was originally developed for business guests and over the years we’ve finely honed our business offering. We have two specific business offers – NEC VIP and a Staying Cool Business Account . NEC VIP is designed for people attending or exhibiting at the NEC in Birmingham. We look after lots of exhibitors and visitors to trade fairs at the NEC – many of whom come back year after year. It’s just a two-minute walk to New Street Station from our serviced apartments and then an eight-minute train journey to the NEC. There are ten trains an hour. We’ve designed NEC VIP so that things are as easy as possible for you and the city centre is a far livelier place to stay than near the airport/NEC. Our NEC VIP package includes your accommodation, free train tickets to and from the NEC (we give you your tickets at check-in to save you time queuing at the station, car parking at the nearby Bullring and use of a gym just 100m away. We think that choosing to stay in one of our serviced apartments Birmingham is a great way to balance the demands of exhibitions with having a great place to relax in the city. We also offer Business Accounts and allow business guests to use their apartments to host meetings. We’re also in a great location whether you have business in the Business District, New Street and Moor Street stations, the ICC or the NEC. Our Birmingham business accommodation offer includes free Wi-Fi, free printing, concierge service, space to hold meetings for two-eight in serviced apartment plus other cool extras at no additional cost. We have four different types of serviced apartments in Birmingham: Roadsters - two-bed/two-ensuite 5 star serviced penthouses with wraparound balconies, large living areas &amp; kitchens Maxis – two bed/two ensuite 5 star serviced apartments with large living areas &amp; kitchens Clubmans – one bed/one ensuite 5 star serviced apartments with large living areas &amp; kitchens Minis - Beautifully designed 4 star studio apartments with space to work, relax, sleep and make meals Prices start at £99 If you want to find out more about the best serviced apartments Birmingham has to offer, check out our blog. We publish new posts regularly and always announce new offers on our serviced apartments on our . Let’s connect! Terms and conditions apply for all special offers. Please check the offers page for full details. See all of our offers for serviced apartments Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/serviced-apartments-birmingham-offers/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/serviced-apartments-birmingham-offers/Sat, 05 March 2016 10:34:39 Take a look at our Shakespeare and Shopping Offerhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/shakespeare-and-shopping/2016 marks 400 years since William Shakespeare’s death. We've launched a special offer to honour the world-famous Midlander. Our Shakespeare &amp; Shopping package gives you: The choice of a 5* or 4* serviced apartment in Birmingham (where the Shakespeare Memorial Library is found) A bottle of champagne chilling on arrival , so you can raise a glass to Will Shakespeare Free return train tickets to Stratford-upon-Avon Birmingham has a range of fascinating sites for Shakespeare fans, with the Shakespeare Memorial Library a particularly fine example. A unique Elizabethan-style room, it was recently rebuilt at the very top of the ultra-modern Birmingham Library to offer visitors access to more than 44,000 books as part of the Shakespeare Collection . It also contains a 1623 copy of the first folio and fascinating Shakespeare memorabilia such as posters, theatre programmes and illustrations. Staying Cool’s central location makes it the perfect base for enjoying all the culture that Birmingham has to offer in combination with a day trip to Shakespeare's birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon. Stratford can be reached in under 45 minutes by train from Birmingham . Additionally, Staying Cool's guests have luxe shops such as Armani, Selfridges, Louis Vuitton and Harvey Nichols a short walk away and a huge number of high-street brands on the doorstep at The Bullring , for when they’ve had their fill of all things Shakespearean. Shakespeare and Shopping can be booked via our website at stayingcool.com using the code SHAKESPEARE . The offer is available until April 30 th ,2016.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/shakespeare-and-shopping/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/shakespeare-and-shopping/Sun, 14 February 2016 09:21:10 6 Small Business Starshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/6-small-business-stars/We’re a serviced apartment company based in Birmingham and we work hard to support other independent businesses. Take a gander at these cool, creative businesses. We like to buy local, but the majority of these small business stars can be accessed online if you’re not in Brum. Our independent edit includes gift ideas for geeks and foodies plus stylish home accessories and furniture. Let us know what you think of them! 1) ARTISTICALLY GIFTED Brumhaus designs are inspired by modernism and architecture and can be paired beautifully with the mid-century modern furniture we’re so fond of. Brumhaus are big fans of Birmingham (as you may have guessed by their name) and their images frequently feature the Rotunda. It was love at first sight for us! brumhaus.uk @brumhaus 2) BIG SOFTIES Heather of Eclectic Chair makes our soft furnishings for Rotunda. She is an upholsterer extraordinaire and also co-owns Blackbird Vintage , a fabulous retro shop in Leeds . eclectic-chair.com @EclecticHeather blackbird-vintage.co.uk @BlackbirdLeeds 3) CHINA GIRL The very talented Lou Rota now specialises in china, but she upcycled 1960s chairs for us to use in our apartments. Check out her beautiful, stylish designs - we’re especially in love with the chameleons. lourota.com@lourotalondon 4) COOL JEWELS We’re spoilt for choice here as Birmingham is the UK’s hub for jewellery making – much of it handmade. However, we are very enamoured by The Sarah Preisler Gallery at the Custard Factory. Sarah stocks work by other artists plus her own stunning jewellery (also sold by the V&amp;A, fact fans. Ooh la!). @SaraPreisler 5) FURNITURE We often use vintage furniture in our apartments and we have a serious soft spot for mid-century modern. Fragile Design at The Custard Factory in Birmingham specialises in vintage 20th Century design furniture and accessories. Bring on those Danish sideboards! fragiledesign.com @MattFragile 6) PRESSIES Science has become seriously cool recently and Vincent van Doodle are making it even more so. Their designs for kitchenware, wallpaper,cushions and prints are inspired by science. They also sell up-cycled furniture and handmade Industrial décor. We are seriously lusting after their Scientists Coffee Mug Set - the quotes on them are hilarious. All Vincent van Doodle products are designed in house and made at their studio or in the UK. We like the cut of Vincent van Doodle's gib! 10 Commercial Street B1 1RR vincentvandoodle.com @vincentvdoodle STAYING COOL AT THE ROTUNDA Time to blow our own trumpet! We're a small, independent business too. We offer 29 stylish serviced apartments at the Grade II listed Rotunda building in Birmingham , which can be rented for one night or for longer stays. Our apartments are beautifully designed and customer service is top notch. Prices start at £99 per night per apartment . *** SPECIAL OFFER: Save 10% on bookings using the code SMALLBIZ10 at stayingcool.com *** Terms and conditions apply. New Year’s Eve 2015 &amp; 2016 plus Valentine's Weekends (Fri - Sun) excluded from offer.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/6-small-business-stars/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/6-small-business-stars/Tue, 01 December 2015 09:00:00 Romantic Breaks in Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/romantic-breaks-in-birmingham/In the mood for romance in Birmingham? With stunning views and plenty of space to relax, Staying Cool is one of the most romantic places to stay in Birmingham. Here are our suggestions for making the most of this great city: Noon - arrive by train in Birmingham Begin your time away in style with a glass of bubbly at Fizz! in Grand Central , which wraps around the city's stunning New Street Train Station. 12.30pm - drop your bags off just two minutes’ walk away with Staying Cool. We’ll take good care of them for you and pop them in your apartment for your return. 1pm – time to choose: Love history? Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter is a fascinating area, described by English Heritage as ‘a national treasure’ Love design? Amble down to Digbeth and the cool of the Custard Factory , Birmingham's creative quarter Love shopping ? You have five shopping centres, five major department stores and lots of funky independent retailers to choose from Love art? Explore Birmingham’s excellent art galleries such as BMAG and IKON 3pm – pop back to Staying Cool for a break and to take in the views. If you’ve booked one of our romance packages , you’ll find some treats waiting for you. Take a couple of hours to relax. 7pm – Time for an early evening drink. Ginger’s Bar is one of our favourite places for cocktails. 8pm – the food scene in Birmingham is fantastic. Ask our Guest Relations staff for advice on the perfect place to eat. 10pm – The Jam House is a great place to head for if you are in the mood for live music and drinks. Or take a stroll along one of the city’s canals in search of a night cap. Time for bed? – curl up together in your apartment and enjoy the stunning nightscapes. Enjoy a long lie in and then head for the The Mailbox for brunch (we’d recommend Gas Street Social ), high-class shopping and a film at the swanky Everyman Cinema (you can book a sofa in advance). OFFER ON ROMANTIC BREAKS IN BIRMINGHAM Tempted? Check out our romantic breaks for brownie-point-earning extras such as champagne, flowers and chocolates on arrival. You can take 10% off your stay using booking code ROMANTIC15 Ts&amp;Cs: Code valid until end 2016. Excludes bookings for New Year's Eve and for 12th Feb-14th Feb, 2016).https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/romantic-breaks-in-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/romantic-breaks-in-birmingham/Sat, 07 November 2015 09:00:00 Leisure weekends in Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/leisure-weekends-in-birmingham/Here are six things that make a weekend in Birmingham an inspired idea: 1) It's #Birmingyum not Birmingham Birmingyum has its own hashtag and there’s a good reason for that: there are hundreds of great places to eat in Birmingham. The city has five Michelin starred restaurants (more than any other UK city outside London) and the food scene is absolutely buzzing. Image above of Opus Restaurant 2) Birmingham is shopping heaven You can’t argue with five shopping centres, five department stores and oodles of independent retailers. Shopping in Birmingham is a great source of info if you plan to shop until you drop. Image of Grand Central by Verity E.Milligan Photography 3) Birmingham is a hive of creativity There are some seriously talented people in this city! For example, the Custard Factory is home to all things new, digital and funky; live music is alive and well in Birmingham thanks to thriving venues such as The Jam House ; and 40% of the UK’s jewellery is made in Birmingham (much of it in the historic Jewellery Quarter ). Thanks to all this individuality, Birmingham is a fascinating place to visit. Image of the Custard Factory 4) Birmingham theatre will spoil you rotten There’s no need to remortgage your home to buy theatre tickets. And the city has a great choice of venues and shows to see - everything from rep to panto. Proud boast: our city’s biggest theatre – the ultra glam Birmingham Hippodrome - sells more tickets each year than any other British theatre. Yep, it beats London’s West End. Image of Adam Hills (appearing February 2016 at the Hippodrome) 5) The Birmingham art scene is so vibrant it has its own map… The Birmingham Art Map features hundreds of exhibitions and art events around the city each year. As far as permanent exhibitions are concerned, we like to contrast the pre-Raphaelite collection at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery ( BMAG ) with a mooch around the cutting-edge IKON gallery . Image shows BMAG 6) Birmingham looks great With its rich mix of old and new architecture (and a great line in sunsets) Birmingham is very photogenic. Contemporary builds such as the Library of Birmingham and Selfridges Birmingham sit beautifully alongside grand old buildings. The image below shows the Bullring shopping centre and St Martin in the Bull Ring church. The image below was captured by Verity E.Milligan Photography from Staying Cool at the Rotunda. SPECIAL OFFER Tempted to book a leisure weekend in Birmingham? Staying Cool at the Rotunda is a unique, chic place to stay the city. Enjoy 10% off your stay using the booking code 5REASONS Ts&amp;Cs: Code valid until end 2016. Excludes bookings for New Year's Eve and for 12th Feb-14th Feb, 2016.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/leisure-weekends-in-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/leisure-weekends-in-birmingham/Fri, 23 October 2015 08:14:52 News: Staying Cool Wins for Outstanding Servicehttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/news-staying-cool-wins-for-outstanding-service/We've hit a winning streak of late in gaining recognition for excellent customer service - the latest award being a ROSE, a prestigious new customer service award from VisitEngland. Staying Cool was one of only 100 businesses selected to receive a ROSE award from 25,000 assessed by VisitEngland. ROSE stands for Recognition Of Service Excellence. In September, Staying Cool was short listed for the ASAP (Association of Serviced Apartment Providers) Best Guest Experience - an award we won in December last year. Earlier in 2015, we were recognised as a TripAdvisor Hall of Fame winner. The 'Hall of Fame' was created to honour those businesses that have earned a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for five years running. Staying Cool is consistently ranked top on TripAdvisor for places to stay in Birmingham. Staying Cool was also recognised on a local level this year with a win for Customer Service in the Birmingham Retail Awards. Tracey Stephenson, our MD, said: “We put a lot of thought and hard work into guest relations and it’s wonderful to have that recognised. I am extremely proud of the team and can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings.”https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/news-staying-cool-wins-for-outstanding-service/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/news-staying-cool-wins-for-outstanding-service/Tue, 20 October 2015 15:57:17 Shopping in Birmingham - Seriously Coolhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/shopping-in-birmingham-seriously-cool/With the opening of Grand Central, shopping in Birmingham just got even bigger and even cooler. Birmingham is now the only UK city outside London with five city-centre department stores (Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, John Lewis, Debenhams and House of Fraser) Put a ring on it! Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter is home to over 500 jewellery businesses . This historic (and rather funky) city quarter produces more than 40% of jewellery made in the UK Grand Central - new kid on the Birmingham shopping block – wraps around New Street train station. It’s seriously big (450,000 sq ft) and seriously photogenic with more than 60 new shops and restaurants Image by Verity Milligan The city now has four shopping centres – The Mailbox , Grand Central , Pavilions and (last but not least) Bullring . There's something for everyone. The super glam Mailbox was once the site of the Royal Mail's main Birmingham sorting office. It is now home to Harvey Nichols and much more The exterior of Selfridges at the Bullring is covered in a space-age skin made from 15,000 aluminium disks. It looks fantastic in photos and you can enjoy over 160 other shops (plus oodles of places to eat and drink) at Bullring Birmingham has a seriously creative, independent scene. Take a look at Independent Birmingham for the lowdown on the city’s indy shops The Frankfurt Christmas Market in Birmingham is the largest Christmas Market outside Germany and runs for over a month. The market includes a craft fair, so you can buy from local artisans Shopping in Birmingham is so major that it has earned a dedicated website. Check out S hoppinginBirmingham for info on all of the city’s stores and lots of useful, practical info. Tempted to try a Birmingham shopping break? Glam it up by staying at Rotunda . Our chic serviced apartments are right at the heart of the city. Shop and then drop to your heart’s content.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/shopping-in-birmingham-seriously-cool/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/shopping-in-birmingham-seriously-cool/Fri, 25 September 2015 19:00:00 What a Super Line Up of Events in Birmingham this September!https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/what-a-super-line-up-of-events-in-birmingham-this-september/Birmingham is always exciting, but we're moving into a whole new gear this September with: Birmingham Independent Food Fair New Street station and Grand Central launch The Rugby World Cup Birmingham Weekender Style Birmingham Live Rotunda's 50 th birthday! BIRMINGHAM INDEPENDENT FOOD FAIR Resistance is useless. Just dive in and enjoy street food, chef demos, local produce and deli foods, the Gin Garden (where do we sign?), craft beers, tasting sessions, cocktails and wines, plus live music and entertainment. IFF has been such a success that in 2015 you can enjoy two days rather than just one (Saturday, September 12 th &amp; Sunday, September 13 th ). Tickets to the Birmingham Independent Food Fair are available online . NEW STREET AND GRAND CENTRAL Two major projects are coming to fruition this month in Birmingham! From our penthouse perch twenty floors up, we have watched the transformation of New Street train station. The new interior of this busy station is all about light and space. We can't wait to take a look around on 20th September. Four days later, Grand Central - a new shopping and dining destination for Birmingham will open. There are over 60 shops and restaurants on offer. We're looking forward to checking out… 1) The biggest John Lewis store outside London 2) Foyles book store (only their second outside the capital) 3) Kiehl's (we're currently obsessed with their Crème de Corps) 4) L'Occitane - lovely things from Provence 5) The super chic White Company 6) Cath Kidston's retro style 7) Noodle and bento bar YakiNori (a fellow Birmingham indie). 8) Pho - authentic Vietnamese street food STAYING COOL OFFER: Travelling to us by train in September? To celebrate the transformation of New Street Station, we'll have a thank you waiting for you on arrival. Simply show your tickets on arrival and we'll treat you to a bottle of wine (not in conjunction with other offers). RWC2015 The Rugby World Cup reaches Birmingham in late September. South Africa play Samoa on Saturday, September 26 th and Australia are pitted against Uruguay on Sunday 27 th . However, the rugby spirit will be building from the 18 th onwards as Birmingham will have an official Fan Zone in Eastside Park showing matches on a big screen. Our apartments are a great choice if you're coming to see Rugby World Cup games. Our Clubman, Maxi and penthouse apartments offer spacious living areas to hang out in. They're right at the heart of the city, so you can enjoy the matches plus all the bars, restaurants, shopping and culture that Birmingham has to offer. STAYING COOL OFFER : Stay with us us over the RWC2015 weekend for two nights or more and enjoy 10% off your booking plus a complimentary bottle of champagne. Offer valid for two night stays between Friday 25th and Monday 28th September, 2015 (inclusive) at our Rotunda apartments. Book here using the code RWC2015. BIRMINGHAM WEEKENDER September 25 th -27th is going to be a mammoth weekend for sports and the arts in Birmingham. You'll come across wonderful sights and sounds around every corner during the Birmingham Weekender . Music, dance, roaming street-theatre and art will take visitors by surprise in shops and department stores with performances inside, outside and in shop windows. You may even be entertained in multi-storey car parks! A programme of free events sees highlights such as the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in residence at The Mailbox (which is looking amazing right now). Birmingham Royal Ballet will perform at the Bullring. Centenary Square will welcome young people as it is transformed into a Mexican day-of-the-dead block party while Victoria Square will stage live music. We're seriously excited about the Birmingham Weekender . You can see the full programme here . Come stay and really make the most of it. STYLE BIRMINGHAM During the huge Birmingham Weekender/Rugby World Cup weekend, the Gas Hall at the city's art museum and art gallery (BMAG) will play host to Style Birmingham Live. Style Birmingham is absolute bliss if you are into fashion and beauty. The historic Gas Hall will become 'The Fashion Theatre', showcasing the latest autumn/winter styles. The event will feature eight catwalk shows across the weekend - all hosted by Mark Wright - as well as fashion advice from style experts such as TV's Mark Heyes. Tickets for Style Birmingham include entry into the show, a welcome drink on arrival, a goody bag and the chance to enjoy retailer offers and activities. They are available online . ROTUNDA IS 50 Lastly, we'll be marking the Rotunda's half century this September. We're conducting tours of the building as part of Heritage Open Days and Birmingham Heritage Week. Unfortunately, the tours are already sold out. However, we will be running a competition to give away a Rotunda print by Birmingham photographer Verity Milligan. Please follow us on Facebook for details. We hope that you'll be able to join us in September in Birmingham. This great city is about to get even more exciting. Book with Staying Cool here Images 1, 3, 4 and 5 are courtesy of Pixabayhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/what-a-super-line-up-of-events-in-birmingham-this-september/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/what-a-super-line-up-of-events-in-birmingham-this-september/Fri, 04 September 2015 11:06:00 Rugby World Cup in Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/rugby-world-cup-in-birmingham/The Rugby World Cup is coming to Birmingham in September and we couldn't be more excited! Whatever team you are supporting, we hope to welcome you to Birmingham. No single team has won the Rugby World Cup and then gone on to win the next tournament four years later and 2015 is all to play for. Rugby: Five Favourite Facts 1) The original rugby balls were made of pigs bladders and blowing them up could be fatal. Mrs Liddon - wife to one of the men who made the balls for Rugby School - died having breathed in the air from too many diseased pig bladders. 2) England is the only country to date from the Northern Hemisphere to win the Rugby World Cup. England won in 2003 and the other winners have been New Zealand (1987 &amp; 2011), South Africa (2007 &amp; 1995) and Australia (1999). 3) Rugby is the national sport of New Zealand, Wales and (less commonly known) Madagascar. Madagascar has yet to take part in a Rugby World Cup, whilst New Zealand has won the tournament twice. Wales has reached every tournament and came third in 1987 and fourth in 2011. 4) Rugby is a tremendously tough game and injury rates are said to be three times higher in rugby than in football (aka soccer). 5) England's Jonny Wilkinson is the top scoring Rugby World Cup player to date. He scored 277 points over his Rugby World Cup career. * SPECIAL OFFER * South Africa play Samoa on Saturday, September 26 th and Australia go up against Uruguay on Sunday 27 th . We have a special offer at our serviced apartments in Birmingham if you stay over that weekend for two nights or more. Enjoy 10% off your booking plus a complimentary bottle of champagne (chilling in your apartment on arrival). Book here using the code RUGBY2015 Offer valid for two night stays between Friday 25th and Monday 28th September, 2015 (inclusive) at our Rotunda apartments. Image courtesy of Pixabay Why Choose Staying Cool? You'll find our stylish serviced apartments just a minute or two from Birmingham's two main train stations. The rugby matches are taking place at Villa Park and it is very easy to reach the stadium from the city centre via public transport. Our apartments offer the space to hang out with the friends or family you are travelling with. Our two-bedroom Maxis and Penthouses feature spacious living areas, kitchens and en-suite bathrooms and they're ideal for groups. Our chic Mini studios and our one-bedroom Clubman apartments were designed for one or two people. The apartments have everything that you need to make yourselves at home such as washing machines and irons, plus plenty of room in the fridge for cold drinks and snacks. Relax and catch sports on Sky TV in the privacy and comfort of your apartment. Birmingham is a wonderful, welcoming city and, as our apartments are right at the heart of it, you'll have access to a wonderful range of bars and restaurants on your doorstep. The Rugby World Cup is taking place at 13 different venues in England and Wales (full fixture list here ). Birmingham is a good base for travel to matches taking part in other parts of the country. For example, Leicester is under an hour away by train, whilst London can be reached in one hour 20 minutes. Our friendly guest relations team will be happy to help you in any way they can and ensure that you really enjoy your visit to Birmingham. Click here to book Questions about staying with us during the Rugby World Cup? Please contact ushttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/rugby-world-cup-in-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/rugby-world-cup-in-birmingham/Tue, 18 August 2015 14:16:32 Michelin Star Restaurants Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/michelin-star-restaurants-birmingham/Birmingham has a thriving food scene and there are hundreds of places to eat well. However, if you are looking for something really special, choosing a place that has been awarded a Michelin star might pay dividends. These are Michelin's top five restaurants in Birmingham: Michelin star restaurants Birmingham The Michelin Guide has been putting restaurants through their paces for over a century. Michelin's inspectors go to great lengths to remain anonymous, so they are treated as any diner would be and they have very exacting standards. Winning a place in the Michelin Guide is the ultimate ambition for many chefs. Birmingham has the highest number of Michelin starred restaurants in the UK outside London and that's something that we are very proud of as a city. So where can you eat that has the Michelin stamp of approval when you are staying with us at the Rotunda? As of September 2016, the following Birmingham restaurants can be found in the prestigious Michelin Red Guide for Great Britain and Ireland: Simpsons, Turners, Purnell's, Adam's and Carters of Moseley. SIMPSONS (bookings 0121 454 3434) Sample starter: Crab risotto with smoked haddock, apple and sprouting broccoli Sample main course: Fillet of Aberdeen Angus, red wine onions, bone marrow and triple cooked chips Sample dessert: Custard tart, gariguette strawberry sorbet, basil Simpsons has held a Michelin star since 2004. It was created by Andreas Antona, Chef Owner and Luke Tipping, Chef Director. Simpsons' head chef, Matt Cheal, joined the kitchen out of college in 2000 and has spent 15 years honing his skills with Luke's guidance. Matt now runs a brigade of 14 and also teaches at the Simpsons cookery school once a week. Simpsons offers an excellent value lunch menu and also taster menus. With its private dining room, it could be a great choice for an intimate wedding reception or family celebration. Children have their own three-course menu too. Simpsons is a taxi ride away from Rotunda (you will find it in a Grade-II Edwardian villa in Edgbaston), but this renowned restaurant is well worth the trip. Please note that Simpsons is undergoing a refurbishment until August 2015, but it will remain open during this time. Read the Michelin inspector's view on Simpsons TURNERS (bookings 0121 426 4440) Sample starter: Scallop raw and cooked, new season garlic, mussels and smoked potato Sample main course: Poussin three ways, white asparagus, gnocchi, morels and sauce Albufera Sample dessert: Chocolate Moelleux, salted caramel and hazelnut Turner's won its Michelin star in 2009 for creating delicious Modern British food with a French twist: chef Richard Turner makes regular trips to Michelin starred restaurants in France. Turner is largely self-taught and has a passion for developing wonderful flavours. His stellar career has humble origins as he started working in catering as a dishwasher, but he won a Michelin star only two years after opening Turners. Turner prides himself as an ungimmicky chef who prefers traditional methods of cooking and focuses on flavour. Staying Cool's favourite fascinating fact about Richard Turner is that his grandfather worked as a chauffeur for the Bird family, who made a fortune from the invention of Bird's Custard. The Bird family owned a fleet of yellow Rolls Royces (how could they resist?), which must have been a wonderful sight. Turners is an intimate restaurant with only 24 tables, so make sure that you book well in advance if you want to guarantee getting a table. It is found in the affluent Birmingham suburb of Harbourne, a taxi ride away from Staying Cool, and offers a tasting menu. Read the Michelin inspector's view on Turner's PURNELL'S (bookings 0121 212 9799) Sample starter: Provence green asparagus , poached organic egg yolk, pigs trotter nuggets, meat juices and watercress Sample main course: Slow cooked ox cheek, horseradish and pickled shimeji mushrooms Dessert: Raspberry macaron , white chocolate and mint Glyn Purnell's approach to cooking is bold and creative. His eponymous restaurant has held its Michelin star since 2009. The Yummy Brummie (Glyn's Twitter handle) started cooking professionally at the tender age of 14 when he started working after school. Glyn has a connection with the aforementioned Simpson's restaurant as he worked as Chef de Partie there and then went on to be Sous Chef. Glynn went on to win awards such as the Academie de Culinaire Francaise Annual Award of Excellence in 1996 and the Rioja National Sous Chef of the Year 2000. At Jessica's in Edgbaston, he won critical acclaim and a Michelin star for his cooking. Glyn Purnell's passion for cooking has led him to work on 'stages' or placements with chefs of the calibre of Gary Rhodes, Gordon Ramsay and Alistair Little. He has also travelled abroad, working for Michelin starred chefs in France and Spain. Purnell's is found in a lovely Victorian building in one of Birmingham's historic conservation areas, close to St Phillip's Cathedral. It offers tasting menus and has a private dining room available. The restaurant is within walking distance of our Rotunda apartments (although, of course, we're very happy to organise a cab for you if you'd prefer). Read the Michelin inspector's view on Purnell's restaurant ADAM'S (bookings 0121 643 3745) Sample starter: Pheasant's egg, parmesan, Jersey royal new potatoes Sample main course: Sea bream, tomato, octopus and wild garlic gnocchi Sample dessert: Dark chocolate, coffee, orange and cinnamon The restaurant is the brain child of Adam Stokes and his wife Natasha and it earned a Michelin star only six months after it opened in 2013. Head chef Adam brought a fine pedigree to Birmingham, which explains the speed at which the restaurant won recognition. Stokes held his first job as Head Chef at Glenapp Castle in aged only 27 and used locally sourced ingredients such as game, lobster and crab as his inspiration. His approach won Glenapp a Michelin Star. Adam's is found on New Street (very close to our serviced apartments at Rotunda). The restaurant is small - not a bad thing unless you can't get a table - but there are plans afoot to move to a larger space. Read the Michelin inspector's view on Adam's restaurant CARTERS OF MOSELEY (bookings 0121 449 8885) Sample starter: Wiltshire truffled gougeres Sample main course: Poached cod, fermented garlic, runner beans Sample dessert: Black fig tart with black fig ice cream Carters is the new kid on the Michelin block in Birmingham and gained its Michelin Star in September 2015. Its strap line is 'Simple. Affordable. Fun.' and we can't think of a better way to sum the place up! The chef/proprietor is Brad Carter. Read the Michelin inspector's view on Carters of Moseley Looking for a great place to stay in Birmingham? Enjoy our special offer Whether you want to taste Michelin-starred delights or funky street food, Staying Cool at the Rotunda is the perfect base to explore the best places to eat in Birmingham. Book one of our chic serviced apartments using using the code MICHELIN and enjoy 10% off .https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/michelin-star-restaurants-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/michelin-star-restaurants-birmingham/Fri, 07 August 2015 13:34:54 Enjoy a Romantic City Break Together in Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/enjoy-a-romantic-city-break-together-in-birmingham/Looking for a killer combination of cool things to do, great places to eat out, and a stylish place to spend time together? Birmingham is the UK's second city and a vibrant, quirky place. Read on for just a few of our favourite things to do for two. FOOD LOVERS Birmingham has a thriving independent food scene and more Michelin starred restaurants than any other UK city outside London. Ask our Guest Relations team to recommend the hottest places to eat in the city (such as the seriously funky Digbeth Dining Club ) or take a look online at Dine Birmingham to get your finger on the foodie pulse of the city. MUSIC LOVERS Whatever type of music you are passionate about, you'll find somewhere wonderful to enjoy it live in Birmingham. Catch a huge act such as Madonna at the Barclaycard Arena or choose an intimate venue such as the Jam House , co-founded by Mr Jools Holland. FILM LOVERS The Electric - Britain's oldest working cinema - is an independent gem with great scheduling and they'll bring food and drinks to your VIP sofa. The perfect date for a pair of cineasts. ART LOVERS If contemporary art is your thing, 2015 is a great time to visit Birmingham's Ikon gallery as it is exhibiting key British artists from its five decade history. BOOK LOVERS The new Library of Birmingham is a fascinating place to explore together (especially if you share a passion for architecture and design as well as literature). This wonderful library is full of surprises. For instance, on top of this ultra-modern building you'll find the Shakespeare Memorial Room - created in 1882 - in all its Elizabethan-style splendour. LONG-TERM LOVERS Popping the question? Birmingham produces around 40% of the jewellery made in the UK and it does it in style. The city's characterful Jewellery Quarter is home to hundreds of jewellery and craft businesses and many of them occupy Listed buildings. In fact, with plenty of great places to eat and drink, this national treasure (as English Heritage describes it) is well worth a visit whether you're on the look out for a ring or not. Image: VisitEngland/Diana Jarvis PEACE LOVERS From wow-factor penthouses to cocoon-like studios high above the city streets, Staying Cool at the Rotunda is the perfect place to spend time together. All of our serviced apartments offer fantastic views and chic interiors. Here's what The Independen t had to say about romance at the Rotunda. COME AND STAY We're offering 10% off stays at Rotunda in 2015 booked using the code ROMANCE2015. You must make your booking before the end of April 2015. This offer excludes stays on 31/12/2015. Book now onlinehttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/enjoy-a-romantic-city-break-together-in-birmingham/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/enjoy-a-romantic-city-break-together-in-birmingham/Sat, 01 August 2015 13:05:59 Travel Tips to make your business trips healthierhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/travel-tips-to-make-your-business-trips-healthier/Travelling for work may make you the envy of your friends and colleagues, but being away from home can be tough on your body and your mind. We've played host to thousands of business people over the years and here are our simple tips for staying healthy when you're out of your usual routine: 1) Get the balance right If you're away for just one night a year then we insist that you make the most of it and have plenty of fun. But if you work away from home regularly you should definitely give some thought to how to keep in shape. Don't allow business travel to damage your health. 2) Planning is vital Take basic sports gear with you on every trip and try to build up a sweat every day while you are away. Business trips can be hectic, so it's a good idea to put reminders on your phone . That way, you're far more likely to get workouts done. 3) Recreate your home routine Runner? Get online and find out where the best runs are close to your accommodation. Runkeeper is simple to use and global. Missing classes? There are some excellent free workouts online. All you need is good Wi-Fi and you're off. To follow this one from Men's Fitness all you need to get fit is a couple of chairs. Swimmer? Hotel pools can be disappointingly small and unsuitable for swimming lengths. Ask whoever books your accommodation to check this before your company pays a premium for having a pool or check out public pools online. We find that hunting down local lidos and outdoor pools always pays dividends - using one feels like being on holiday. Fitness phobic? You could try a free 10-day trial from InstructorLive while you're away. Work on your fitness in private and return home feeling better than when you left. 4) Snack cleverly Endless meetings can play havoc with your eating habits and you may be surrounded by tempting pastries for days at a time. Make sure that you always have a store of low-GI, nutritious snacks - such as nuts - on you. 5) Cooking is cool Ordering room service or eating restaurant food can be hard on the arteries if you indulge too often. We're biased on this one, but checking into a serviced apartment could be good for your health. Having a kitchen and the opportunity to prepare simple, healthy food is something that your heart will thank you for. 6) Breathe Get as much fresh air as you can . Rent a bike or get walking and search out green spaces. After a hard day's work, it will do your body good and clear your mind. SCIENCE BIT: Just half an hour of cardio will boost your immune system and make you feel happier. 7) Breakfast like a King, but not King Henry VIII A full English breakfast is a thing of wonder, but it's not always the wisest choice as they are often swimming in unhealthy fats. Choose a place to stay where you can make a better start to the day . At our serviced apartments in Birmingham, for example, we provide guests with Rude Health cereals , fresh milk and squeezing oranges. Do you have any healthy travel tips to share? Let us know how you stay in shape when you are away from home. SPECIAL OFFER : If you are travelling to Birmingham, UK on business why not stay in one of our stylish serviced apartments at Rotunda? Your body will thank you. Use booking code HEALTHYTRAVEL to receive 10% off your first stay. What we offer business travellers Book online Image above shows Staying Cool serviced apartment Birminghamhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/travel-tips-to-make-your-business-trips-healthier/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/travel-tips-to-make-your-business-trips-healthier/Fri, 31 July 2015 13:40:10 Birmingham Attractions for Touristshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birmingham-attractions-for-tourists/The UK's Second City is buzzing with things to do. We're here to help you decide what are the must sees. These are our top tourist attractions in Birmingham (in alphabetical order). It really was very hard to get it down to this shortlist, but here goes. Birmingham Back to Backs Feeling jaded? A tour of this group of tiny, nineteenth-century houses is an excellent way to appreciate things we take for granted such as running water, indoor toilets, washing machines, the internet and privacy! Most of the historic houses you can visit in the UK belonged/belong to the rich and powerful whilst the Back to Backs shine a light on working-class history. Fascinating stuff. Image courtesy of Birmingham Hippodrome. Credit: Paul Coltas Birmingham Hippodrome Birmingham Hippodrome never fails to wow us and that's before the performances have even started. The auditorium is splendid (we realise that splendid is an old-fashioned word, but you'll see what we mean when you get there). It's not just about the lavish interior. The Hippodrome sells more tickets every year than any other theatre in the UK and that's because it stages world-class entertainment. Choose from panto, musicals, serious drama, stand up, opera, ballet (it's home to Birmingham Royal Ballet), contemporary dance… The list is endless! Summer is traditionally a quiet time for theatres but the Hippodrome doesn't rest on its laurels. Enjoy two spectacular free weekends of entertainment in the streets and squares around the Hippodrome at Summer in Southside. BMAG Birmingham Museums and Art Galleries is a thing of wonder. The buildings are big on civic grandeur, but what we love most about BMAG is how forward thinking its team is. They have a wonderful foundation of art and precious objects, but they go out of their way to keep BMAG fresh. It's just a couple of minutes away from our apartments and popping in always pays dividends. This summer, we've been drawn to 'Love is Enough: the Works of William Morris and Andy Warhol' (not names that you often see combined on a poster). Highlights include Warhol's iconic portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. The exhibition can be seen until September 5 th . Electric Cinema You can't beat a good rep cinema and The Electric is one of the best. It's the oldest working cinema in Britain and a world away from a multiplex. It offers real soul plus imaginative programming. Go VIP and curl up on cool leather sofa, have drinks brought to you by the friendly staff and enjoy a great cinematic experience. Escape Live Escape Live is the new kid on the Birmingham tourist block and it's proving to be a big hit. This could be the perfect choice if you fancy having your grey matter challenged while getting mildly hysterical and laughing a lot. What's it all about? You get locked in a room and then solve clues to escape. Choose from Dr Wilson's Office or the (rather more disturbing) Room 13. Escape Live is based in Birmingham's historic Jewellery Quarter, which is a wonderful place for a mooch. Image courtesy of Visit England The Library of Birmingham If you are a big reader then clearly this new, huge library will be your idea of heaven. However, even if you're not, the Library of Birmingham should be on your list. Don't just admire it from afar: the interior is very beautiful and photogenic, the views are excellent and there are some v.groovy café bars to check out. And did we mention that there's an old Shakepeare room perched on the top of this ultra-modern building? The library is located handily next to Symphony Hall You know you are having a proper night out when you enter Symphony Hall - it's a magnificent venue. Musicians from all genres love to perform here as the acoustics are excellent. Over the next few months you can see Idina Menzel (the voice of Disney's Frozen film - yes, we do want to build a snowman, Idina, but you are here in late June) ; David Arnold , the genius behind the music of the contemporary Bond films; Trevor Noah , the comedian taking over from Jon Stewart on The Daily Show; and Rebecca Ferguson showcasing her new album reworking the songs of Billie Holiday. We make special mention of the classic silent movie Ben Hur with the score played by the CBSO. Booking now for 2016. Scream if you want to go go faster! Where to stay in Birmingham The attractions we've highlighted are just the tip of the tourist iceberg in Birmingham. If you're planning on coming to the city (and we hope we've persuaded you that you should), take a look at our chic serviced apartments . Number one on TripAdvisor for Birmingham (as of June 24 th , 2015) Stellar location right at the heart of the city Easily walkable from both of the city's main train stations Frankly, they're swanky! To book please go to stayingcool.comhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birmingham-attractions-for-tourists/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/birmingham-attractions-for-tourists/Wed, 08 July 2015 11:49:17 Staying Cool makes for a Great Boutique Hotelhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cool-makes-for-a-great-boutique-hotel/We've been trying to come up with an alternative to the word 'boutique' to use when talking about Staying Cool at the Rotunda. Why? Well, since the '80s, the word has been connected in people's minds with hotels whilst Staying Cool is all about serviced apartments. Boutique also implies smallness somehow and that doesn't apply to our apartments either. However, we do feel that the word captures something of our approach and, frankly, 'apartiques' ('boutments'?!) don't seem likely to catch on. Is the B word really that hard to live with? Some wonderful buildings have been brought back to life over the last three decades under the boutique hotel flag and the Rotunda lives up to that with its Grade-II listing. This unique, cylindrical skyscraper has been right at the heart of Birmingham for the past 50 years and is much loved. It was transformed from what had become an unloved office building (saved from demolition by an outraged general public) to apartments in 2008 by the brilliant Urban Splash . That's when Staying Cool came in and it was love at first sight. Rotunda gave us an amazing opportunity to take the best of boutique hotels (individuality, cutting-edge design, great service) and combine it with what we love about apartments (space, privacy, flexibility). Individuality is an important part of the boutique element of Staying Cool. Our apartments certainly look beautiful, but they also feel good to be in. We think that's because of the choices Paul Taylor - one of our co-founders - made when he was designing them. For instance, the pieces Paul chooses are largely British designed and made. In Staying Cool's apartments, you find furniture and lighting by designers of the calibre of naughtone , Lou Rota , Timorous Beasties , Tom Dixon and Paul Smith . We don't cut corners: our chic kitchens are by Poggenpohl and our Ultimate beds are made by a Scottish company using NASA technology. The result of this is that our apartments have soul and staying in one feels great. Service is another boutique-y element of what we do. Staying Cool was set up by two friends (the aforementioned Paul and Tracey Stephenson, our MD). They both travelled a lot for business and for pleasure and, as a result, they learned what turns a good stay into a memorable one. Having happy guests who want to come back again and again is at the heart of what we do. We try to anticipate what could make guests enjoy their stay even more and then make that happen. Examples of this are great, free Wi-Fi on tap for your whole stay; special packs to keep kids amused; great teas and coffee (plus paper cups just in case you have to rush off to a meeting); seasonal treats such as Easter eggs; fluffy towelling robes…etcetera…etcetera. If you are tempted by our boutique serviced apartments, here's what you can choose from in Birmingham: Mini - studio apartments Clubman - one-bedroom apartments Maxi - two-bedroom apartments Roadster - two-bedroom penthouses with wraparound balcony We are consistently the number one hotel on TripAdvisor in Birmingham. If you'd like to book now then please go to stayingcool.comhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cool-makes-for-a-great-boutique-hotel/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cool-makes-for-a-great-boutique-hotel/Tue, 07 July 2015 13:50:58 Staying Cool's Brilliant Package for Children - Cool for Kidshttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cools-brilliant-package-for-children-cool-for-kids/Our free Cool for Kids package is always popular with families and Birmingham offers a really wide variety of things to do. Our serviced apartments are a really excellent choice for families. See why on our Cool for Kids page with lots of inspiration about what to do in Birmingham with kids and teens.https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cools-brilliant-package-for-children-cool-for-kids/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/staying-cools-brilliant-package-for-children-cool-for-kids/Tue, 07 July 2015 13:01:10 13 Cool Things to Do in Birmingham This Summerhttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/13-cool-things-to-do-in-birmingham-this-summer/Here are 13 fabulous events you can enjoy this July and August in Birmingham. Some of them are both fabulous and free ... 1) Colmore Food Festival (Friday 3 rd - Saturday 4 th July) Meander from stall to stall in Victoria Square and enjoy some truly excellent food and drink. 2) UK Athletics Championships and Trials (Friday 3 rd -Sunday 5 th July) Bring back happy memories of the London Olympics. 3) International Jazz and Blues Festival (Friday 3 rd -Sunday 12 th July) This huge festival fills the venues (and streets) of Birmingham with music from all over the world. 4) Brindley Place Film Festival (Tuesday 14 th -Thursday 23 rd July) Outdoor film festival. Enjoy gems such as Clueless, Independence Day and Finding Nemo. 5) JQ Festival (Friday 17 th -Sunday 19 th July) New festival celebrating Birmingham's historic (and rather groovy) Jewellery Quarter 6) Shock and Gore (Friday 17 th -Thursday 23 rd July) Fantastic film festival from the Electric Cinema with a firm focus on horror and fantasy. 7) One Beat Festival (Saturday 25 th -Sunday 26 th July) Love discovering new music? One Beat presents the best new and breakthrough bands in the UK. 8) Simmer Down (Sunday 19 th July) Reggae orientated music and arts festival for all the family in Handsworth Park. 9) Cricket - Ashes Series - England versus Australia (Wednesday, 29 th July to Sunday, 2 nd August) Is anything more pleasant than watching cricket in England on a summer's day? 10) Color Run (Saturday August 15 th ) Photogenic fun run. 11) Cricket - 120 Blast Finals Day (Sunday, 23 rd August) Enjoy a perfect Sunday of cricket at Edgbaston. 12) Fusion Fest (Friday August 29 th -Sunday 30 th August) Justin Bieber hits Birmingham alongside Ella Henderson, Rudimental, Tinie Tempeh, The Vamps, Labrinth, Clean Bandit and many more. 13) Summer in Southside (Saturday 29 th -Sunday 30 th August) Outdoor family fun from the team at the Birmingham Hippodrome. Bringing the streets alive. Images courtesy of Pixabay As you can see there is an enormous amount happening in Birmingham this summer.If you want to make the most of it then why not stay with us at our serviced apartments ? SPECIAL OFFER : Use booking code MOREBIRMINGHAM via our website and we will have a chilled bottle of champagne waiting for you in your chic apartment on arrival. Valid for stays up to and including August 31st, 2015. Number one on TripAdvisor for Birmingham Stellar location right at the heart of the city Easily walkable from both of the city's main train stations Stylish accommodation in an iconic buildinghttps://www.stayingcool.com/blog/13-cool-things-to-do-in-birmingham-this-summer/
https://www.stayingcool.com/blog/13-cool-things-to-do-in-birmingham-this-summer/Tue, 30 June 2015 11:33:01